Erkel, Ferenc |
| OPERA COMPOSER, PIANIST, CONDUCTOR (HUNGARY) |
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BORN 7 Nov 1810, Gyula - DIED 25 Jun 1893, Budapest GRAVE LOCATION Budapest: Kerepesi cemetery (29-1-6) |
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Descended from a family that had live in Pozsony (now Bratislava) for a long time. He was pianist and conductor at the National Theatre and is regarded as the inventor of Hungarian opera. From 1838 onwards he conducted at the National Theatre in Pest where he produced his opera's. From 1875 to 1888 he was the leader of the Hungarian Academy of Music. His second opera "Hunyadi László" (1844) was an immediate success and it became Hungary's national opera. His other huge success was "Bánk Bán" (1861), based on the drama by Joseph Katona's. His later works, ofthen written in collaboration with his sons, were less successful. Erkel's statue (1881) by Alajos Stróbl is located in a niche to the entrance of the Opera House in Budapest. Related persons • was teacher of Eibenschütz, Siegmund • was a friend of Liszt, Franz |
| Images |
 Ferenc Erkel's tomb at the Kerepesi cemetery, Budapest. Picture by Androom (29 Jan 2001) |
Sources • Adler, Josef, Handbuch der Grabstätten, 2. Band, Die Grabstätte der Europäer, Deutsches Kunstverlag, München, 1986 • Prahacs, Margit, Franz Liszt, Briefe aus Ungarischen Sammlungen 1835-1886, Bärenreiter, Kassel, 1966 |
