‘…a pianist of world class…due to his intelligent understanding of the meaning
and direction of whatever he plays.’ Sunday Telegraph, Sydney
BEETHOVEN PIANO SONATAS
The 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven in 2020 was celebrated with special events throughout the musical world. Gusztáv Fenyő paid tribute to the composer’s genius with two cycles of the 32 Piano Sonatas in Scotland and Hungary, commencing in 2019. The second half, intended for 2020, was postponed until 2022 due to Covid-19 restrictions. Full details here. He first performed cycles of the 32 sonatas in 1990 in both Glasgow and Edinburgh.
In 2023 he performed a further complete cycle at the Edinburgh Society of Musicians, and earlier this year he returned to FUGA, Budapest to give a recital, postponed from 2020 due to Covid-19, of late Beethoven sonatas: Opp. 101, 109, 110, 111.
In tandem with the live performances, he embarked on a project to record all the sonatas. This has now been completed and the video-recordings are being released on his YouTube channel. Sonatas Nos. 14, 17 and 30 are already available. The remainder will be released in early 2025.
SCHUBERT / BRAHMS
In October 2022 Gusztáv gave a recital of Brahms (6 pieces from Op.76) and Schubert (Sonata in B flat D960 and Impromptu in A flat D935/2) at St Mary’s Perivale, West London. The performance was recorded live and is available to listen to online here.
In 2023, amongst other concert appearances, he performed Brahms and Schumann piano quartets at Gödöllő Royal Palace, Hungary and the Bishop’s Palace, Nagyvárad, Romania.
Forthcoming solo recital programmes in Scotland include Schubert, Ravel and Bartók at the Cathedral of the Isles, Millport on Sunday 22nd September and, together with Debussy and Rachmaninov, at the Edinburgh Society of Musicians on Saturday 19th October.
At the beginning of 2025 he will be giving recitals in Budapest, performing Brahms (pieces from Op.76 and Opp.116-119) at FUGA and Bartók at Bartók House.
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This website also serves as an archive for Music-Makers, a Scottish charity dedicated to chamber music which Gusztáv Fenyő founded in 1995. Under his artistic direction, Music-Makers acquired a reputation for innovative programmes, imaginative presentations and exciting performances. These ranged from festivals and themed concert series to masterclasses and summer schools, in a variety of settings, mostly within Scotland and always involving superb professional musicians. See Past Events.
Music-Makers closed in June 2019 to allow more time for Gusztáv Fenyő to pursue his own performing and teaching career, including increasing activities in Hungary. We would like to thank all who supported Music-Makers throughout these twenty-five years and hope very much that you will continue to stay in touch.
Gusztáv intends to produce more frequent blogs on a range of musical topics and, of course, there will be further news about his own musical activities – all on this website, so there is no need to look elsewhere!
