Ferenc Erkel

Ferenc Erkel

November 7, 1810 – June 15, 1893

Erkel was a Hungarian composer. He was the father of Hungarian grand opera, written mainly on historical themes, which are still often performed in Hungary. He also composed the music of "Himnusz", the national anthem of Hungary.
Erkel was born in Gyula, a son of Joseph Erkel. The libretti of his first four operas were written by Béni Egressy. Beside his operas, for which he is best known, he wrote pieces for piano and chorus, and a majestic Festival Overture. He acquainted Hector Berlioz with the tune of the Rákóczi March, which Berlioz used in The Damnation of Faust.
He headed the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra (founded in 1853). He was also the director and piano teacher of the Hungarian Academy of Music until 1886. The Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest was opened in 1884, of which he was the musical director.
In 1839, he married Adél Adler, they had four sons - Gyula (1842 – 1909), Elek ( 1843 - 1893), László (1844 - 1896) and Sándor (1846 - 1900) - who participated in the composing of his later operas.
Erkel was an internationally acknowledged chess player as well. He died in Budapest.
A department of the Opera House was established in 1911 in Budapest which also performs operas, named Erkel Színház (Erkel Theatre) since 1953.
Operas:

• Bátori Mária (1840)
• Hunyadi László (1844)
• Erzsébet (1857)
• Bánk bán(1861) – this opera is often thought of as "the" national opera of Hungary
• Sarolta (1862)
• Dózsa György (1867)
• Brankovics György (1874)
• Névtelen hősök (1880, "Nameless heroes")
• István király (1885)
• Kemény Simon (remained in fragments)

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