All rounds of the Live Phase of the II International Ferenc Fricsay Conducting Competition will feature a full symphony orchestra on stage — a valued collaboration with the Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged that we are especially proud to present.
The Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged is the leading symphonic ensemble in South-East Hungary. Its origins date back to the 18th century, with the first opera performance in Szeged taking place in 1790. Since then, the city has continuously supported a group of professional instrumentalists.
In 1919, the orchestra was formally established as part of the Szeged Philharmonic Association. Among its principal conductors was Ferenc Fricsay, who led the ensemble from 1934 to 1944 and played a key role in shaping its artistic direction.
In the 1940s, the orchestra worked with several notable guest conductors, including Willem Mengelberg, Erich Kleiber, and Pietro Mascagni, who conducted a performance of his Cavalleria rusticana.
The orchestra remains active today, continuing its work as a cultural institution with a long-standing tradition.
