Person details

Ferencz Erkel

Erkel, Ferencz (1810-1893). Hungarian pianist, conductor and composer. Organized musical life in Kolozsvar before moving to Budapest in the 1830s as assistant conductor of the German Theatre and then as conductor of the National Theatre in 1837. Founded the Budapest Philharmonic Society in 1853 and director of the royal High School of Music (1875-1889). As a composer he pioneered Hungarian patriotic national opera.