András Ligeti

András Ligeti (5 August 1953 – 19 September 2021) was a Hungarian classical violinist and conductor who worked internationally. He was chief conductor of the Hungarian State Opera House until 1985, and chief conductor to the Budapest Symphony Orchestra from 1989 to 1993. He recorded with a focus on Hungarian music and contemporary music.

Biography Ligeti was born in Pécs on 5 August 1953. He studied violin and conducting at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest.

He enjoyed a close relationship with Claudio Abbado, beginning when he worked with Abbado and the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester;

As a performing artist and conductor, he made the first performance or the Hungarian premiere of many contemporary compositions, including works by György Kurtág (Mi is a szó, 'What is the Word', 1991), Zoltán Jeney, László Vidovszky, Igor Stravinsky, Luciano Berio and Alfredo Casella.

He recorded many CDs, especially of Hungarian music, for companies such as BMG Conifer, Naxos Records, Hungaroton and Radioton, as well as numerous recordings for radio and television worldwide.

In 1998 he made his UK operatic debut with a new production of Bizet's Carmen for Opera North, directed by Phyllida Lloyd. In 1999 he also gave acclaimed performances of The Damnation of Faust by Berlioz at the Perth Festival with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

Ligeti died on 19 September 2021, one month after his 68th birthday.

Awards and recognition Ligeti's awards included: 1988: 1988: 2001: Béla Bartók-Pásztory Ditta Prize 2002: Title of Meritorious Artist of Hungary 2003: Knight of the Star of Italian Solidarity 2007: Kossuth Prize