INTRODUCTION
The Hungarian National Male Choir (formerly known as the Honvéd Male Choir), unique in the world, is the second largest full-time professional male choir in the world, with 45 members.
Its repertoire spans the entire musical repertoire, from Gregorian chant to solo choral works, oratorios, operas, jazz, rock and electronic music concerts, all performed to the highest standards.
The motto of the choir: Voice, Heart, Power..
The choir's sound combines the dramatic power and range of Russian choirs, the subtle detail of Western European choirs, with the expressiveness that is the deepest characteristic of the Central European tradition.
The male choir, originally called the Choir of the Honvéd Central Art Ensemble, was formed in 1949 with singers who were then military personnel. Today, its members are professional, highly qualified vocalists. During its existence, it has made nearly 400 guest appearances in more than 50 countries on four continents, and its total number of performances is approaching 30,000.
The choir has worked with many world-famous conductors, such as Marc Albrecht, Ernest Ansermet, Antal Doráti, Iván Fischer, Ádám Fischer, Lamberto Gardelli, Avner Itai, István Kertész, Lovro von Matacic, Zubin Mehta, Giuseppe Patané, Michel Plasson, Yuri Simonov, György Solti, Karolos Trikolidis, Robert Sund, Marcello Viotti, Andriy Yurkevych. The Male Choir has been the starting point for many outstanding figures of Hungarian and international opera life, including Róbert Ilosfalvy, József Réti, József Gregor, Dénes Gulyás and many others. Many of the current members are also regulars on the various opera stages.
The work of the ensemble has been recognised with the Prima Primissima Award, the Hungarian Heritage Award, the Bartók Award, the Pásztory Award and the Charles Cros Academy Record Grand Prize.