Paganini: Sonatinas & Capricci (HQCD)

Denes Zsigmondy 西格蒙第

Denes Zsigmondy (1922 – 2014) studied at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, receiving tuition from Geza de Kresz, Leo Weiner and Imre Waldbauer. His musical education as a violinist was further influenced by working with Carl Flesch and Zino Francescatti. Personal contact with Bela Bartok inspired his great interest in Bartok’s musical vision and exploration of Eastern European folk music.



Denes Zsigmondy has given performances throughout the world, as a soloist with orchestras, such as the Bamberger, Berlin and Vienna Symphony Orchestras, the Boston, Budapest, Hong Kong, Munich and Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestras, the Radio Orchestras of RIAS Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Sydney and others and also as a recitalist. He has made a large number of records and radio recordings. There are now available as compact discs, furthermore, he has played the first performances of violin concertos by Bialas, Genzmer, Eder, Büchtger and other composers. His life as a musician was greatly enhanced by personal contact with Kodály, Sessions, Dallapiccola, Ligeti and Kurtág.



In 1972 he was appointed Professor at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA and Guest Professor at Boston University. He has given masterclasses at the New England Conservatory, Boston, the Liszt Academy, Budapest, in San Francisco, Hong Kong, etc. He has been the Director of the Holzhauser Music Festival at Starnberger See in Bavaria since 1977. He has conducted violin courses at the Summer Academy in Salzburg (since 1986), as well as classes in Italy, Hungary, England, Switzerland, Germany, Poland (The European Mozart Academy) and the USA. In 1995 he received an appointment at the University of Mainz to conduct solo violin classes.

Anneliese Nissen

Anneliese Nissen (1947 – 2014) studied piano and singing at the Music Academy in Munich. Masterclasses with Walter Lampe, student of Clara Schumann, and also studies with Maria Ivogün. She abandoned her soloist career in both branches, and became the permanent partner of Denes Zsigmondy. Anneliese Nissen thought, that singing is the essential basis of all musical practice and therefore, the singing studies have been very essential for her career. She gave also chamber music courses in the United States.