Zoltán Kodály - Háry János Suite; Dances Of Galánta (István Kertész)

Information

Composer: Zoltán Kodály

1. Háry János Suite, K. 56: I. Prelude. The Fairy Tale Begins
2. Háry János Suite, K. 56: II. Viennese Musical Clock
3. Háry János Suite, K. 56: III. Song
4. Háry János Suite, K. 56: IV. The Battle and Defeat of Napoleon
5. Háry János Suite, K. 56: V. Intermezzo
6. Háry János Suite, K. 56: VI. Entrance of the Emperor and His Court
7. Dances of Galánta, K. 79
8. Háry János, Op. 15, Act IV: No. 28, Orzse's Song. Szegény vagyok
9. Háry János, Op. 15, Act II: No. 14, Chicken Song. Hej két tikom tavali

Olga Szönyi, mezzo-soprano

London Symphony Orchestra

István Kertész, conductor

Date: 1964 / 2026

Label: Decca

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Zoltán Kodály (1882–1967) was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, and influential educator known for his dedication to folk music and music pedagogy. After studying in Budapest and briefly in Paris, he taught at the Budapest Academy of Music for over three decades. Alongside Béla Bartók, he collected and published Hungarian folk songs, forming a foundation for later scholarly work. Kodály developed a distinctive, lyrical style rooted in folk traditions and influenced by French and Renaissance music. His प्रमुख works include Psalmus Hungaricus, Háry János, and Dances of Galánta. His writings and educational efforts significantly shaped Hungary’s musical culture and global music education practices.

István Kertész (1929–1973) was a distinguished Hungarian conductor who studied at the Liszt Academy under Zoltán Kodály and Leo Weiner before launching his career in Budapest. After leaving Hungary following the 1956 uprising, he established an international reputation, holding major posts in Augsburg, Cologne, and with the London Symphony Orchestra. Renowned for his lyrical style and expressive clarity, he collaborated with leading orchestras worldwide and built a strong discography with Decca, including acclaimed recordings of Dvořák, Schubert, and Brahms. Kertész died tragically at 44, leaving a legacy as one of his generation’s most promising and accomplished conductors.

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