Peter Eötvös
Peter Eötvös composer, conductor and teacher: he combines all three functions in one very high-profile career. Born in Transylvania in 1944, he received diplomas from Budapest Academy of Music (composition) and Hochschule für Musik in Cologne (conducting). He has long been considered one of the most significant and influential personalities on the music scene as both an internationally recognized conductor and a composer of successful operas, orchestral works and concertos, written for well-known artists from all over the world.
Eötvös attaches great importance to passing on his extensive knowledge and experience to others. He taught at the music college in Cologne and Karlsruhe and gives regular masterclasses and seminars throughout Europe. He established his “International Eötvös Institute” in 1991 and the “Eötvös Contemporary Music Foundation” in 2004 in Budapest for young composers and conductors.
He is member of the Akademie der Künste in Berlin, Szechenyi Academy of Art in Budapest, Sächsische Akademie der Künste in Dresden, Royal Swedish Academy of Music Stockholm, Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium and Honorary Academician at Santa Cecilia, Roma.
His many compositions (e.g. Atlantis, zeroPoints, Shadows, Levitation, CAP-KO, SEVEN, DoReMi) and operas (Three sisters, Le Balcon, Angels in America, Love and Other Demons) are regularly performed throughout the world. His works have been recorded by BIS AG, BMC, DGG, ECM, KAIROS, col legno, Naive and his music is published by Editio Musica (Budapest), Ricordi (Munich), Salabert (Paris), Schott Music (Mainz).
Awards, prizes
European prize: "Pro Europa" prize in 2004 (Europäischer Preis für Komposition)
In Hungary: "Bartók-Pásztory prize" in 1997, "Kossuth Prize" in 2002, "Gundel arts award" in 2001, "Freeman of Budapest" in 2003, Ambassador of the Hungarian Culture from 2008, "Magyar Szent István Rend" ("The Order of Saint Stephen" - the highest medal awarded by Hungary) 2015, Prima Primissima in 2017, "Homeland" prize in 2018.
In France: "Officier de l'Ordre des l'Arts et des Lettres" in 1988, Cannes Classical Award for "Living Composer" in 2004, Grand Prix de la PMI - Prix Antoine Livio 2006 (Association Presse Musicale Internationale)
In Germany: Goethe Medal in 2018
In UK: Royal Philharmonic Society Music Award in 2002
In Italy: Golden Lion Award for Lifetime achievement in 2011
In Portugal: Terras sem Sombra International Prize 2018
Composition and recording prizes
His opera "Three sisters" was awarded France's Prix Claude-Rostand, Grand Prix de la Critique (1998) and Victoires de la Musique Classique and du Jazz (1999) and its CD won Grand Prix of Academie Charles Cros (1999), Diapason d'or de l'année 2000, ECHO Preis 2000 in Germany and Prix Caecilia in Belgium (2000).
In 2003 the film of his opera" Le Balcon" won the Grand Prix Golden Prague.
His violin concerto " SEVEN" was awarded "Prix de Composition Musicale" at Fondation Prince Pierre de Monaco in 2008.