Eötvös, Peter

Eötvös, Peter, Hungarian conductor, composer, and pedagogue; b. Szekelyudvarhely, Jan. 2, 1944. He received training in composition at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest (1958–65) and in conducting at the Cologne Hochschule für Musik (1966–68). From 1966 he worked closely with Stockhausen, and was also associated with the electronic music studio of the WDR in Cologne from 1971 to 1979. He appeared as a guest conductor in contemporary programs with major European orchs. from 1974. From 1979 to 1992 he was music director of the Ensemble InterContemporain in Paris, and also was principal guest conductor of the BBC Sym. Orch. in London from 1985 to 1988. In 1991 he founded the International Eötvös Inst. and Foundation for young conductors and composers. From 1992 to 1995 he held the position of first guest conductor of the Budapest Festival Orch. He was a prof, at the Karlsruhe Hochschule für Musik from 1992 to 1998, and at the Cologne Hochschule für Musik from 1998. In 1994 he also became co-chief conductor of the Netherlands Radio Chamber Orch. in Hilversum. He was named a Chevalier de 1’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France in 1988 and was awarded the Bartok-Pasztory Prize of Hungary in 1997. In 1997 he also became a member of the Akademie der Kiinste in Berlin and of the Szechenyi Academy of Art in Budapest. His opera Three Sisters (1996–97) was awarded the Prix Claude-Rostand, Grand Prix de la Critique 1997–98 and the Victoires de la Musique Classique et du Jazz 1999 in France. Eötvös’s compositions have been performed throughout the world and are regularly featured at European music festivals.

Works

DRAMATIC Harakiri, sound-play (1973); Radames, chamber opera (1975); Three Sisters, opera (1996–97); As 1 Crossed a Bridge of Dreams, sound-theater (1999); film music. ORCH.: Pierre Idyll (1984–90); Chinese Opera (1986); Triangel for 1 Creative Percussionist and 27 Musicians (1993); Psychokosmos for Cimbalom and Traditional Orch. (1993); Shadows for Flute, Amplified Clarinet, and Chamber Orch. or Ensemble (1996); Replica for Viola and Orch. (1997–98). CHAMBER : Ens e m b l e : ”Now, Miss!” for Violin and Electric Organ or Synthesizer (1972); Windsequenzen for Flute and Ensemble (1975–87); Intervalles-Interieurs for Tape and Ensemble (1981); Steine for Ensemble (1985–90); Brass: The Metal Space for Brass and Percussion (1990); Korrespondenz for String Quartet (1992); Countdown for 4 Timpani (1996); Psy for Flute, Cello, and Cimbalom or Piano, or Harp, or Marimba (1996). S o l o : Kosmos for Piano (1961); II maestro for Pianist and 2 Steinway Pianos (1974); Psalm 151: “In memoriam Frank Zappa” for Solo or 4 Percussion (1993); Thunder for Bass Timpanist (1994); Two Poems to Polly for Speaking Cellist (1998). VOCAL: Mow Lasso for Vocal Ensemble (1963–72); Hochzeitsmadrigal for Vocal Ensemble (1963–76); Insetti galanti for Vocal Ensemble (1970–90); Endless Eight I (1981) and 17; Apeiron musikon (1988–89) for Vocal Ensemble; Atlantis for Baritone, Boy Soprano, Cimbalom, and Orch. (1995); Two Monologues for Baritone and Orch. (1998). OTHER: Mese (Marchen/Tales), Sprachkomposition on tape (1968); Cricketmusic, organized nature sounds on tape (1970); Elektrochronik, stereophonic tape (1974); Der Blick, multimedia piece on video and tape (1997).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire