Fürst, Janos
Fürst, Janos
Fürst, Janos, Hungarian conductor; b. Budapest, Aug. 8, 1935. He received training in violin at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. In the aftermath of the failed Hungarian Revolution of 1956, he fled his homeland and pursued violin studies at the Brussels Cons., where he won the premier prix. He went to Dublin and was a violinist in the Irish Radio Orch. (1958–63). In 1963 he became founder-conductor of the Irish Chamber Orch. In 1968 he was made resident conductor of the Ulster Orch. in Belfast. Following his London debut with the Royal Phil, in 1972, he appeared as a guest conductor with principal British orchs. and with various orchs. on the Continent. From 1974 to 1978 he was music director of the Malmo Sym. Orch., then music director of the Alborg Sym. Orch. (1980–83). From 1981 to 1989 he was music director of the Opera and Phil, in Marseilles; was also principal conductor of the RTF (Radio Telefis Firearm) Orch. in Dublin (1983–89). On April 12, 1990, he made his U.S. debut as a guest conductor of the Indianapolis Sym. Orch. From 1990 to 1995 he was music director of the Winterthur Stadtorchester.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire