from Mr. Peter Komlós
My dear friend Kamillo Lendvay delighted me when he wrote his second string quartet that I had requested from him - and dedicated it to us, the Bartok String Quartet, in 2007. Then - we begun working on it - the joy it gave us! This string quartet is modern music at its best. It maximizes the potentials of the genre and takes into full account the nature of instruments - therefore the point of view of the performers. This is why we favor this string quartet, that stands out among the contemporary literature where these aspects, unfortunately, are often ignored. We premiered the piece in 2008 with such a huge success that we've kept it in our repertoire, playing it whenever we can - in concert halls, radio and TV. I wish for us many more such modern pieces.
Peter Komlos,
Two times Kossuth awarded Outstanding Artist
Leader of Bartok String Quartet
from Agnes Szakaly
Kamillo Lendvay's cimbalom music goes beyond maximizing the instrument's technical potential, but also presents its broad dynamic range and colors. His work allows for unfolding of the soul of performer and instrument alike. I love them and keep them on my repertoire.
Cimbalom artist, winner of Liszt Prize and
Legion of Honor of Hungarian Republic
from István Kosztándi
I consider myself fortunate to have gotten acquainted with Kamillo Lendvay's 2nd String Quartet. As soon as we started rehearsing, it was obvious that we were dealing with a true masterpiece. We continued the preparations with great enthusiasm. It gave us pleasure that we did not have to inflict force to achieve certain effects - so common in modern music, unfortunately - yet we were dealing with a truly contemporary piece, that reflects deep human emotions we were able to identify with.
from Csaba Onczay
Thank you, Kamillo, for our decades long musical friendship and numerous cello pieces that you've written for me. All of them are of lasting artistic value. I had the chance to play all of them worldwide, always with great success. By now, the new generation of students in Hungary and abroad, and many other cellists, play them. The Hungarian cello literature became richer by your contributions.
Professor for cello at Liszt University of Music
Guest Professor at Indiana University Summer String Academy
from Jacqueline Mayeur
I had the great pleasure to take part as a mezzo soliste in the creation of the Stabat Mater in Paris, composed by Kamilló Lendvay with the J.W.Audoli Orchestra was directed by Michel Piquemal. The public reception was great, we have repeated this work several times in France, or in Budapest where the recording was done. I' appeciated greatly that I was able to interpret this magnificent Stabat mater under the simpathetic guidence of the composer for whom I have a sincère friendship and a deep admiration.
mezzo-soprano soloist,
oratorio singer
Mme. Jaqueline Mayer
J'ai eu le grand plaisir de participer à la crèation à Paris, (1991) en tant que que mezzo-soliste, du Stabat mater de Kamillo Lendvay sous la direction de Michel Piquemal et avec l'orchestre J.W. Audoli acceillie avec un tres grand succès, nous avons repris cette oevre plusieur fois en France ainsi qu'à Budapest où a eu lieu l'enregistement. J'ai énormént apprécié de pouvoir interpréter ce magnifique Stabat mater sous les conseils bienveillants du compositeur pour qui je garde une sincère amitié, ainsi qu'une profonde admiration.
mezzo-soprano soloist,
oratorio singer
from László Dés
In 1994 I performed at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music at an Artisjus concert. After the concert, Kamillo Lendvay came up to me. Until then I was a distant admirer of his, he was one of the most prominent contemporary composers. He congratulated and said he was so impressed that he decided to write a saxophone concerto if I agree to play it! It was such a great honor that it literally rendered me speechless. As I regained my composure, I said yes, bursting with happiness. About a year and a half later Kamillo told me he has finished the concerto. I got terribly curious and also scared as in the past twenty years I played jazz exclusively. The technique of improvisation is totally different, than strictly prescribed classical music. Kamillo gave me the score, fresh out of the oven and like a madman I started to practice it. An amazingly rich, complex and exciting piece was born, full of contrasting characters, huge dynamic range, and utilizing a multitude of musical forms, from fugue to choral to name a few. We premiered it on October 9th, 1996 at the Academy of Music with the then AHZ (State Concert Orchestra), and the State Choir’s Female Chamber Choir, under the baton of Zsolt Hamar, with great success. As a testimony of this success, the concerto was placed in the repertoire of every major orchestra countrywide. It was recorded by Hungarian Radio and later on, published on one of his many LPs entitled “Five concerti”. It was a great challenge and responsibility for me to take part in the performance of this wonderful Saxophone Concerto. Working with Kamillo was exceptionally enjoyable. I have received so much and learned so much from.
Jazz saxophonist, Kossuth awarded,
Outstanding Artist
from Petra Berenyi
I had the great fortune that the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra chose Kamillo Lendvay’s “Concertino Semplice” written for cimbalom and string orchestra, in 2012. I was the soloist who performed this cimbalom concerto three times for the American public. The three movements are distinct yet unified in presenting the unique properties of cimbalom, from a robust tone to lyric rubato. The second movement is reminiscent of folk music yet almost improvisatory that vanishes into the distance, giving rise to an explosive, incredibly virtuoso, tense third, final movement. This last movement represents an immense challenge to any cimbalom artist. It was an amazing experience for me to present such a fascinating concerto to the American audience, knowing that cimbalom music is relatively rare in the repertoire. The fact that they could enjoy a piece that demonstrates the unique richness of cimbalom filled me with joy.
cimbalom artist, soloist of North Carolina Symphony Orchestra
from Vilmos Szabadi
For me it is always a privilege to play contemporary music, especially when the piece is dedicated to me and I can participate in its birth. My friendship with Maestro Kamillo Lendvay dates to decades before. He was my role model as my professor at the "Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music ". Going back to the Second Violin Concerto: I remember the friendly rehearsals with the author, which enhanced my learning. I knew right away that fate had given me a very special piece to play. The violin solo is a pleasure to play, while the orchestration is rich, precise and creative. I had been practicing it with passion! The premier in Marl, Germany with Philharmonia Hungarica under the excellent baton of Gilbert Varga was a great success.
Szabolcs Molnar, the music critic of the magazine "Music" wrote in 2009:
Kamillo Lendvay's beautiful "Solo Sonata for Cello" achieves more than seemingly intended. The day after the concert I've came across its Radio premiere with the author's commentary that reinforced this view. Csaba Onczay's performance demonstrated that each and every note Lendvay wrote are validated by deep decisions, but even more importantly, that these decisions are filled with curiosity and excitement. The solo sonata described a personality.
from László Jekl
I remember the uplifted state of mind I was in, going home from the banquet of "The Respectable Streetwalker" in Budapest. This enthusiastic, joyful feeling was mostly due to the time I spent with the composer, Kamillo Lendvay and his lovely wife. It is so rare to have such a warm connection with people right at the beginning. You can imagine my excitement when Kamillo Lendvay asked me to sing the bass solo of "The Celestial City" - "Die Himmlische Stadt"! This piece is based on a quotation from Saint John's Apocalypse, with the main lines presented by cello and bass solo. The premier took place in Corvey, Germany. Hungarian audiences had many chances to enjoy this work, which had many broadcasts and a recording as well. Thank you, Kamillo, for allowing me to be part of this significant creation of yours;
Bass Soloist of Hungarian State Opera House