Kondorossy, Leslie

Kondorossy, Leslie, Hungarian-American composer; b. Pressburg, June 25, 1915. He studied at the Academy of Music in Budapest. After World War II, he settled in Cleveland. He continued his studies at Western Reserve Univ., and later studied Japanese music and theater at Tokyo’s Sophia Univ. He was active as a teacher, conductor, and composer. Kondorossy was especially proficient in producing short operas.

Works

dramatic:Opera: Night in the Puszta (Cleveland, June 28, 1953); The Voice (Cleveland, May 15, 1954); The Pumpkin (Cleveland, May 15, 1954); The Midnight Duel, radio opera (Cleveland, March 20, 1955); The String Quartet, radio opera (Cleveland, May 8, 1955); Unexpected Visitor (Cleveland, Oct. 21, 1956); The 2 Imposters (Cleveland, Oct. 21, 1956); The Fox (Cleveland, Jan. 28, 1961); The Baksis (1964); Nathan theWise (1964); The Poorest Suitor, children’s opera (Cleveland, May 24, 1967); Shizuka’s Dance, children’s opera (Cleveland, April 22, 1969); Kalamona and the 4 Winds, children’s opera (Cleveland, Sept. 12, 1971); Ruth and Naomi, church opera (Cleveland, April 28, 1974). Ballet: Magic Dance (1948); The Ideal (1950); King Solomon (1952). orch.:Serenade for English Horn and Chamber Orch. or Piano (Bavarian Radio, Munich, Feb. 2, 1948); Trombone Concerto (1958); Trumpet Concerto (1959);Harp Concerto (1961); Prelude and Fugue (1966); Harpsichord Concerto (1972); Music (1973). chamber: 2 piano sonatas (No. 1, Cleveland, May 17, 1966; No. 2, 1955); Harpsichord Sonata (1958); Trio for Violin, Viola, and Cello(1958); String Quartet No. 1 (Cleveland, Dec. 9, 1960); Music for Flute and Piano (1961); Suite for Violin and Piano (1964); Harpsichord Trio (Cleveland, Dec. 8, 1972); Suite for Brass Sextet (Cleveland, July 9, 1977); Music for Organ and Trumpet (1981). vocal:Kossuth Cantata (Cleveland, March 16, 1952); New Dreams for Old, cantata for Soloists, Chorus, and Chamber Orch. (Cleveland, Nov. 19, 1959); David, a Son of Jesse, oratorio (Cleveland, June 4, 1967); Jazz Mass for Voices and Jazz Band (1968); Ode to the Loyalty of theFirst, cantata for Soloists, Chorus, and Chamber Orch. (Cleveland, Sept. 19, 1971); Sacred Fire, oratorio (1979).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire