Dichter-Komponist Graf Géza Zichy
Dichter-Komponist Graf Géza Zichy

Summary/Abstract: Géza Zichy (1849–1924) was prominent in artistic and social life in Hungary and Central Europe in the last third of 19th century and the early part of the 20th century. As an aristocrat he belonged to the social elite of the monarchy, as a one-handed pianist he aroused the enthusiasm of European audiences (he gave performances not only in Austria-Hungary, but also in Germany, France, Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Norway, and in Russia). Later he established himself as a conductor and also as a composer – at the beginnig of his career he wrote several shorter pieces for left hand – his own compositions and some adaptations were written by him because of the entire lack of the left-handed repertory. Later he composed also orchestral pieces, vocal works (Cantatas, choral and orchestral ) and operas (between 1896–1912 he wrote 5 operas), whereby he stayed faithful to the principles of romanticism. This strong affinity to romanticism was formed not only by his personal preferences, but also by his teachers R. Volkmann and F. Liszt. The aim of this study is to briefly evaluate Zichy’s work through the analyse of some piano, orchestral and operatic compositions and put it into the context of central European music.

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