Artists biographies
Budapest Festivalorchester

The orchestra was formed in 1983 by Iván Fischer and Zoltán Kocsis, with musicians "drawn from the cream of Hungary's younger players," as "TheTimes" of London put it. Their aim, through intensive rehearsals and demanding the highest standards from musicians, was to make the orchestra's initially three or four concerts per year significant events in Hungary's musical life, and to give Budapest a new symphony orchestra of international standing.

Between 1992 and 2000, extending their work to a full season the ensemble operated under the aegis of the Budapest Municipality and the new BFO Foundation, formed by fifteen Hungarian and multinational corporations and banks. From the 2000/2001 season onwards the orchestra is operated by the BFO Foundation, which the Budapest City Council regularly supports under a contract renewable every five years. In 2003 the Ministry of Education and Culture declared the orchestra a national institution supported by the state.

The Festival Orchestra is nowadays not only a vital part of Budapest's music life (usually performing to capacity audiences) but also a frequent and much appreciated guest at the world's most important centres of musical excellence.

After having recorded on Hungaroton, Quintana, Teldec, Decca, Ponty and Berlin Classics, the orchestra signed an exclusive recording contract with Philips Classics in 1996. In 2003 the BFO signed a cooperation agreement with the label Channel Classics. Their recording of Mahler's Symphony No.6. has been nominated for the Grammy Award, their Mahler 2. has received the Gramophone Award. International critics voted the orchestra in December 2008 among the ten best symphony orchestras of the world.

Numerous outstanding figures from the international music scene have performed with the orchestra. The ensemble also laces great emphasis on the performance of new music, has given many world and Hungarian premieres and regularly commissions new works.

Ever since its foundation 27 years ago, the BFO's Music Director has been Iván Fischer.