Artists biographies
Iván Fischer

Iván Fischer is founder and Music Director of the Budapest Festival Orchestra, Principal Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington D.C. and designated Principal Conductor of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin (from season 2012/13).

The partnership between Iván Fischer and his Budapest Festival Orchestra has proved to be one of the greatest success stories in the past three decades of classical music. Fischer introduced several reforms, developed intense rehearsal methods for the musicians, emphasizing chamber music and creative work for each orchestra member.

Intense international touring and a series of acclaimed recordings for Philips Classics, later for Channel Classics have contributed to Iván Fischer's reputation as one of the world's most visionary and successful orchestra leaders.

He has developed and introduced new types of concerts, "cocoa-concerts" for young children, "surprise" concerts where the programme is not announced, "one forint concerts" where he talks to the audience, open-air concerts in Budapest attracting tens of thousands of people, as well as concert opera performances applying scenic elements. He has founded several festivals, including a summer festival in Budapest on baroque music and the Budapest Mahlerfest which is also a forum for commissioning and presenting new music works.

As a guest conductor Fischer works with the finest symphony orchestras of the world. Earlier a regular guest in major opera houses of the world, and music director of Kent Opera and Lyon Opera, his opera productions often attract international attention. His “Magic Flute” in the Opera of Paris can be regularly seen on Mezzo Television, his “Cosi fan tutte” conducted at the 2006 Glyndebourne Festival is a huge success also on DVD.

Iván Fischer studied piano, violin, cello and composition in Budapest, continuing his education in Vienna where he was in Hans Swarowsky's conducting class. He also studied intensively early music and was for two years Nikolaus Harnoncourt's assistant. Recently he has been also active as a composer: his works have been performed in Holland, Hungary, Germany and Austria.