Somogyi String Quartet

Peter Somogyi
- First violin

 

György Lendvai
- Second violin

 

Balázs Tóth
- Viola

 

László Pólus
- Violoncello

 

The quartet was formed by former students of the Franz Liszt Academy of Budapest in 1997. Its debut was at the Bartók Memorial House in Budapest in the same year.

Next summer the ensemble was invited to the Ravinia Festival (Chicago, IL) where they worked with outstanding quartets like the Tokyo, La Salle, Cleveland, and Emerson quartets.

Today, the ensemble is well known all over Hungary and frequently invited to festivals in Europe (Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, Austria, Romania, Czech Republik) and Mexico. It is the resident quartet of the Summer Festival of Joinville (France).

Since its first performances the ensemble has been considered as an outstanding performer of contemporary music. Attila Bozay dedicated his 3-rd Quartet to the ensemble. Every year since 1998 the quartet is invited to the Minifestival of Budapest, the most important event for performing new compositions in Hungary. Nevertheless, its repertory ranges from classical works to contemporary pieces.

Hungaroton has released several CD-s featuring the quartet. These recordings are regularly broadcast by the Hungarian Radio.

By giving numerous performances for young audience, the quartet actively participates in the musical education of the next generations.

They are very grateful for the help of professors of the Liszt Academy such as Ferenc Rados, János Devich, Sándor Devich, and Béla Bánfalvi.

The quartet got Artisjus-award in 1999 ang 2003 for outstanding performances of contemporary music.