JandÓ, Jeno
JandÓ, Jenő
JandÓ, Jenő, outstanding Hungarian pianist and teacher; b. Pécs, Feb. 1, 1952. He was born into a musical family, and began formal piano instruction at an early age in Pécs with Margit Weininger. While still young, he pursued studies at the Pécs Cons. with Andrâs Ligeti and István Gyermán. At 16, he entered the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, where his principal mentors were Pál Kadosa, Andras Mihály, and Katalin Nemes. He graduated in 1974, and then joined its faculty in 1975. In 1972 he won second prize in the György Cziffra Competition in Versailles, in 1973 first prize in the National Piano Competition of the Hungarian Radio in Budapest, and in 1975 second prize in the Dino Ciani Competition in Milan. He subsequently pursued a global career as a soloist with orchs., recitalist, and chamber music artist. He was honored with the Franz Liszt Prize in 1980, was made an Artist of Merit in 1987, and was awarded the prestigious Kossuth Prize of Hungary in 1997. Jandó’s interpretations of the Classical and Romantic masters are exemplary for their combination of insightful artistry and virtuoso execution. His vast repertoire, much of which he has recorded, includes all the Mozart piano concerti and sonatas, as well as the piano sonatas of Haydn, Beethoven, and Schubert. He has also performed works by Liszt and Bartók.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire