Franz Halász & Débora Halász
Biography Franz Halász & Débora Halász
Débora Halász
Praised by the critics for her debut recordings as a“ superb virtuoso with a prodigious technique“, the Brazilian Débora Halász is among the leading South American pianists of her generation. Winner of the most important competitions in her native country,she gave her debut with the "São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra" at the age of fifteen. Four years later the 'Critics Prize'(APCA) nominated her as the best soloist of the year for her interpretation of Rachmaninov’s third piano concert and the distinguished pianist Ingrid Haebler appointed her as one of the most promissing talents in the piano field. Sher studied in Såo Paulo at the Magdalena Tagliaferro Academy, folowing the Cortot school of playing and later with Beatriz Balzi and Myrian Dauelsberg. At the same time she gradueted in Law at the Sao Paulo University (USP). In 1989 she went with a DAAD scholarship to Germany. After her studies in Cologne she was engaged by the Recording Label BIS in Sweeden where she recorded works by Ginastera, Schostakowich, Castelnuovo-Tedesco,among others. With her husband she built 1993 the “Duo Halasz”, guitar and piano/harpsichord praised by the critic as “magnificent”, “an exciting team” and “a fascinating and multifarious experience”. She teaches at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich and at the University of Music in Nuremberg.
Franz Halász
The American born German Franz Halász, stands in the forefront of outstanding artists in the guitar field. Judged by Soundboard Magazine in his New York debut as "simply electrifying!"and by Gramophone's critic as "the most remarkable guitarist in many years", Franz Halász began his career in 1993, winning first prizes at the „Andres Segovia Competition“ in Spain and the „Seto Ohashi“ Competition in Japan. In his debut CD with spanish guitar music he was praised by the prestigious critic Colin Cooper:"For the modern spanish repertoire, Franz Halász is unsurpassed, able to deliver Turina's message as no one ever has before - no, not even the great Segovia." A guest performer at major festivals and events all over the world, Franz Halasz is holding since 2010 the Chair of Guitar at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich . Since winning first prizes at the Andres Segovia Competition in Spain and the Seto Ohashi Competion in Japan in 1993 Franz Halasz started an impressionating career.The orchestral dimension of Franz Halasz' performances and the clarity and precision of his musical vision have rejoiced audiences between Tokyo and New York. A guest performer at major festivals and events such as the Rose Augustine Series-New York(USA), Toru Takemitsu Memorial Concert-Tokyo(Japan), Kissinger Sommer, Brandenburgische Sommerkonzerte, Mecklenburg Vorpommern (Germany), Bath and Wirral(England), Santo Tirso(Portugal), Puerto Rico and Dell' Arte Series - Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), he also shared the stage with well known artists like Boris Pergamenschikov, Siegfried Jerusalem, Patrick Gallois,András Adorjan, Robert Aitken, Ingolf Turban,Wen-Sinn Yang,Hariol Schlichtig ,Sebastian Hess and Alban Gerhard, among others. Franz Halasz stayed for many years as a Professor at the Hochschule fuer Musik Nuernberg-Augsburg and led there one of the most succesfully guitar classes in Europe. He also offers master classes at Institutes around the world including the Manhattan School of Music - New York, New England Conservatory- Boston, Royal Academy Stockholm, the Academy of Music-Oslo, Mozarteum Salzburg , Sao Paulo University , Esmuc in Barcelona and Musikene San Sebastian. Since October 2010 he is holding the chair for guitar at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich, which was established for the first time in the long history of this renowned institution. His many CDs for BIS - always rated as reference recordings - include among others the complete guitar music by Joaquin Turina and Toru Takemitsu. For Naxos Records, Franz Halasz was first presenting the complete works for guitar by Hans Werner Henze and also the original works by Ferdinando Carulli for guitar and piano. In 2014 there are released four Discs ,including the Integral of the spanish composer Regino Sainz de la Maza (Naxos), a CD with Radames
Gnattali( BIS) ,Sofia Gubaidulinas Complete for Guitar (BIS) and finally a tribute to the spanish Fandango with works from Corelli,Boccherini ,Soler,Granados,De Falla ,Torroba and Rodrigo. 2007 he was awarded with the prestigious “Bavarian Culture Price” by the State of Bavaria for his work as a performer and teacher.
