Antal Zalai
Antal Zalai is regarded as an exceptional violinist, admired for his distinctive tone, musical maturity and elegant virtuosity. Praised early on by artists such as Igor Oistrakh, Isaac Stern and Yehudi Menuhin, he has developed into an internationally sought-after soloist.
His growing reputation has also been shaped by an extensive online videography, including widely viewed performances of demanding works such as Paganini’s 24 Caprices. His most recent release is the complete recording of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, BWV 1001–1006.
Zalai has appeared as soloist with numerous renowned orchestras, including the Staatsphilharmonie Nürnberg, the Brandenburger Symphoniker, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, the Orchestre National d’Île-de-France, the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. His concert career has taken him to around forty countries on four continents, working with conductors such as Fabio Luisi, Yoel Levi, Lawrence Foster, Gilbert Varga, Zoltán Kocsis and Gábor Takács-Nagy.
In addition to his concert work, he has released recordings on labels including Brilliant Classics, Hungaroton and BMC Records, featuring works by Enescu, Bartók, Khachaturian and Bach. He also regularly gives masterclasses at international conservatories, universities and festivals.
Antal Zalai was born in Budapest into a Roma musical family. He appeared internationally at an early age, including at a UNESCO gala in Paris, and gained wider recognition at fifteen with his performance of Bartók’s First Violin Concerto in a concert celebrating Lord Yehudi Menuhin’s 80th birthday. He completed his musical studies in Brussels and plays a 1733 Stradivarius.
ROMA-ROMANTIK VOL 4: SLAVONICA SYMPHONICA
Participants
- Antal Zalai violin
- Sinfoniekonzert mit den Roma und Sinti Philharmonikern
- Riccardo M. Sahiti director
Programme
The concert places Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor, “From the New World” — the Slavic composer’s most famous work — at the centre of the programme.
It also reveals, through Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Concert Fantasy from The Golden Cockerel, Maurice Ravel’s Tzigane, and A. S. Spienelli’s Romano Dives, the many ways in which musical influences from Roma and Sinti culture have left their mark on the classical orchestral repertoire.
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844–1908)
Concert Fantasy from “The Golden Cockerel” for violin and orchestra
Maurice Ravel (1875–1937)
“Tzigane” Rhapsody for violin and orchestra
Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)
Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 “From the New World”
Alexian Santino Spinelli (*1964)
“Romano Dives” for orchestra
Ticket price plus fees; available at the box office and in advance from Frankfurt Ticket.
Subject to change