August 9, 1914
Budapest (Hungary)
-
February 20, 1963
Basel (Switzerland)
Biography
1920–1933: Music studies and diploma from the Budapest Academy of Music (piano, violin, clarinet, trombone, percussion, composition and conducting);
1930: Takes over the Young Musicians Orchestra from his father;
1933–1943: Conductor of the Szeged Military Band and music director of the Szegediner Philharmonic Orchestra;
1944: Escapes from the Gestapo and goes underground in Budapest;
1945–1948: Engagement at the Budapest State Opera;
1946: Performance of Carmen at the Vienna Volksoper;
1947: World premiere of Gottfried v. Einem's Dantons Tod at the Salzburg Festival;
1948: World première of Frank Martin’s Zaubertrank at the Salzburg Festival;
1949–1952: Chief conductor of the Berlin RIAS Orchestra and General Music Director of the City Opera;
1950–1955: Guest performances and concert tours in Argentina ( Buenos Aires), WestGermany, Switzerland, England, Israel, USA (Houston) Lucerne Festival, Munich;
1956–1958: Named General Music Director of the State Opera in Munich (Otello, Wozzek, Die Fürsten Chowansky, Lucia etc);
1958: Reopening of the Cuvillies-Theater (Munich) with Le Nozze di Figaro. Cancellation of all engagements due to illness;
1959-1961: Chief conductor of the Radio-Symphony Orchestra of Berlin (RSO). Inaugural concert of the large hall of the Broadcasting Studio, Free Berlin;
1961: On tour with Menuhin and the RSO. Opening performance of the Salzburg Festival with Idomeneo (July). World première of Kodaly's Symphony in the Lucerne Festival. Inauguration of the Deutsche Oper Berlin with Don Giovanni (September);
1962: Publication of the book Über Mozart und Bartók
On February 20th, 1963 Ferenc Fricsay succumbs to his illness and dies in a Basel hospital.
