One of the most dynamic and versatile symphony orchestras in Hungary
As an official orchestra since 1993 courtesy of the patron, Budafok-Tétény Budapest XXII District Self-Government, over the past few years it has become one of the leading ensembles of the country, winning a prominent place for itself in Hungarian music life in a relatively short time under the baton of Gábor Hollerung, Liszt Ferenc Prize and Prima Primissima Prize conductor, Meritorious Artist of Hungary.
It has taken to the stage in the company of Hungarian and foreign stars such as Plácido Domingo, Shlomo Mintz, Elena Bashkirova, Jaakko Ryhänen, Erika Miklósa, Andrea Rost, René Barbera, Pietro Spagnoli, José Carreras, Andrea Bocelli, Rivka Golani, Roberto Paternostro, Jörg Peter Weigle, Michael Stern, Tatjana Vassiljeva, Zoltán Kocsis, Jenő Jandó, Dezső Ránki, Gergely Bogányi, György Geiger, Kristóf Baráti, Barnabás Kelemen and many others.
In January 2018, Guido Mancusi was appointed the ensemble’s principal guest conductor, and its resident composer, Levente Gyöngyösi, ranks as one of the most outstanding Hungarian composers of the 21st century.
The ensemble has four season ticket series, but each season it presents a dramatized production as well (Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana, Bizet: Carmen, Verdi: Don Carlos, Orff: Carmina Burana, Kodály: The Spinning Room, Honegger: Joan of Arc at the Stake, Berlioz: The Damnation of Faust, Offenbach: Orpheus in the Underworld, Rossini: The Barber of Seville, Beethoven: Fidelio).
In 2009, it launched its film soundtrack production (‘FilmHarmonikusok’, later ‘Cinefonic’), which is the most sought-after symphonic programme in Hungarian music today. The ensemble has organized the Christmas Actually concert show on six occasions since 2018. In 2023, Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra entered a completely new field of music with a public concertante performance of popular video game music called Gamer Symphony.
The orchestra is an active participant on the international concert scene. It has performed in every country in Europe, for example, at the Alte Oper Frankfurt, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the Wiener Konzerthaus, Die Glocke in Bremen, at gala concerts of the World Choir Games in July 2000, 2004 and 2008, the epic TV show put on by ORF, the Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Festival, and at the concert celebrating German Unity Day in Bonn. The orchestra’s versatility is proven by its wide repertoire ranging from classical to contemporary, from jazz and pop to movie soundtracks. BDO is also proud to have its very own and much celebrated big band formation.
The ensemble regularly appears at the most prestigious music and art festivals (Budapest Spring Festival, Café Budapest Contemporary Arts Festival, Jewish Cultural Festival, Miskolc Opera Festival, Beethoven in Buda Festival, BudaFest, Sion-Valais Festival etc.) and it is also resident orchestra of the Zemplén Festival, one of the biggest art-fusion festivals in Hungary.
Ernő Dohnányi (1877-1960) was one of the greatest Hungarian pianists, conductors, music teachers and composers of the first half of the 20th century. He was composing at the age of just seven and his cellist father initiated his music training. From 1886 he attended the Catholic Senior Grammar School in Bratislava where he played violin in the school orchestra, he played organ in church, sang in the choir and regularly composed works. At 16, he debuted as a composer in Vienna with his piano quartet. Having finished school, he continued his studies at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest, in the meantime writing the Piano Quintet in C minor, which won him the admiration of Brahms.
He further honed his skills as pianist with the world-famous Liszt student Eugen d’Albert before setting off on a lengthy concert tour that took him overseas. His musical memory was unparalleled and legendary; he never performed with a score. In 1905, he was invited to become professor at the renowned Hochschule in Berlin. After more than 10 years, he returned to Hungary. Here he quickly became the central authority of musical life. From 1919 until 1944 he was chairman-conductor of the Budapest Philharmonic Society, between 1928-1943 a teacher, then director, of the Liszt Academy, from 1931 to 1944 senior music director of the Hungarian Radio, and a successful pianist. In 1943, he founded the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
His operas (The Tower of the Voivod, Aunt Simona, The Tenor) and his ballet (The Veil of Pierette) have been performed both here in Hungary and abroad. He was deeply involved in having works by his contemporaries, particularly Bartók and Kodály, performed and promoted. Besides teaching and performing, he also found time to compose symphonic and chamber works.
In 1944 he left Hungary and emigrated to the US where he took up a teaching post at Florida State University in Tallahassee from 1949. He was still performing at the age of 80.
All applications must be made by completing the form below.
“The experience of studying here will always be unique and inimitable throughout my life. The orchestra has a very family feel that I have never experienced anywhere else in my life.”
“This week has been a week to remember. I have felt myself growing as a conductor and becoming more confident.”
“I feel I learned a lot from this masterclass… The orchestra is one of the best I’ve ever worked with. Gábor is a fantastic, patient and always approachable teacher – which is rare in the business.”
“The Maestro has a great knowledge and a wonderful orchestra. Thank you for sharing both. I will have many fond and joyful memories of this for years to come. … the artistic perfection, skills, shared heart, dedication, enthusiasm – and humour (!) of these outstanding orchestra members…”
“I was guided to interpret music in a more sophisticated way and I was introduced to the true classical style. Thank you for the opportunity to learn from the Maestro.”
“I was guided to interpret music in a more sophisticated way and I was introduced to the true classical style. Thank you for the opportunity to learn from the Maestro.”
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us
The master class is based at the Budafok Dohnányi Ernő Symphony Orchestra, led by the orchestra’s conductor, Gábor Hollerung.
Please transfer the application and the participation fee to the following bank account.
Budafoki Dohnányi Zenekar
Közhasznú Nonprofit Kft.
OTP BANK Nyrt., 1051 Budapest, Nádor u. 6.
Hungary: 1176 3220 0987 9885 0000 0000
IBAN: HU09 1176 3220 0987 9885 0000 0000
BIC (SWIFT) CODE: OTPVHUHB