Biography, Carreer

János Selmeczi represents a special colour as a performer and recording artist in the space of Hungarian performing arts. His unique violin sound is accompanied by an extremely high standard of performance. He keeps away from empty virtuosity and superfluous interpretation.

Penetrating into the depth of the performed pieces he unfolds such surprising correlations which are absent from the performing tradition of the particular work of art.

He approaches the world of masterpieces with special sensitivity. In the course of his career he had the opportunity to perform the works of great composers in relation to the completeness of the full oeuvre. During the years leading the Éder Quartet he could perform all string quartets of Mozart, Bartók or Shostakovich in the most famous international concert halls. As a soloist he performed memorable interpretations of Bartók, Prokofyev and primarily Schubert.

He is also a specialist of chamber music – sensitively creating the inner cohesion of a chamber music ensemble as well as the wordless communication of the musicians.

His special ability as a concertmaster made him one of the most acknowledged artists. As a concertmaster of the Hungarian State Philharmony, the Hungarian State Opera and the Budapest Festival Orchestra he played a major part in establishing and shaping the sound of the whole orchestra with special regard to the strings.

He had a significant role in performing and promoting the Hungarian contemporary violin repertoire. He performed the world premiere of the violin pieces of several significant contemporary Hungarian composers.

I’ve rarely heard the Bartók sound so cohesive: as though, beneath the troubled surface, a patient logic were working its purpose out… textures were beautifully realized, phrasing elegant, and subtly various The Times