The Bartók Béla men’s choir was founded in Pécs in 1945 by members of Pécs choirs that had disbanded due to the war. At that time, it operated under the direction of Mrs József Sólyom until 1957.

The choir was supported by the Trade Union Committee of the Pécs Transport Company. The members were mainly employees of the company (tram drivers, conductors and bus drivers). The chorus initiated and launched the singing festival bringing together the choirs of the National KSZDSZ, which was held every year, always in a different city. During the tenure of their second conductor, Andor Ligeti, they even took part in the International Debrecen Choir Festival. It was during this period that the choir travelled abroad through its twinning arrangements with sister choirs, first to Osijek, then to Lahti, and later to Leipzig. Under the leadership of conductors István Hegyi, Valér Jobbágy and, subsequently, József Hergenrőder, the choir achieved good results at national qualifying concerts.

Dr Tamás Lakner, a Liszt Prize-winning conductor, took over the leadership of the choir from his predecessors in 1980. This youthful vigour set the choir on a new course, leading to premieres of new modern works, tours abroad and competitions. Following the change of regime, further opportunities opened up for the choir, bringing a series of international and domestic accolades.

They have taken part in numerous concerts, competitions and concert tours abroad, including in the United States and Canada (1998, 2010), Spain (1999, 2009), England (2003, 2012) South America (Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, 2004, 2018), Turkey (2013) and China (2014, 2016, 2019).

In addition to the 32 prizes they have won at international choir competitions, their greatest successes came in 2006 in China and in 2008 in Graz, Austria, at the 4th and 5th Choir Olympics, where they were crowned Olympic champions.

Also in 2006, they won the Grand Prize at the 4th Zoltán Kodály Hungarian Choir Competition. On 22 January 2007, on Hungarian Culture Day, they were awarded the Csokonai Prize. They frequently perform oratorios with the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra.

Of great significance in the choir’s history are its numerous recordings (cassettes, CDs). The crowning achievement among these is the CD containing Kodály’s works for male choir, released by Hungaroton in 2005, followed by a special double-CD version released in 2010. Also released by Hungaroton in 2011 was a unique complete edition of Ferenc Erkel’s works for male choir, which was nominated for an International Choral Music Award (ICMA) in the choir category.

The choir is the main organiser and driving force behind the unique and highly successful European and World Choral Festivals, which have been held every year at the end of September since 1993.

The Béla Bartók Male Choir celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2020.

1997 Zoltán Kodály Hungarian Choir Competition, Category winner

1997 Budapest International Choir Competition, Category winner

1997 Apeldoorn International Male Choir Competition, 2nd place

2002 International Choir Competition, Fivizzano, Italy, 1st place

2003 1st International Male Choir Competition, Cornwall, England, 1st place

2004 City of Pécs Pro Communitate Award

2006 4th Choir Olympics, Xiamen, China – 1st place in the chamber choir category (Olympic championship title)

2006 Bartók Memorial Award

2006 Zoltán Kodály Hungarian Choir Competition – 1st place; special prize; grand prize of the competition

2007 Csokonai Prize

2007 Baranya County Assembly Excellence Award

2008 5th Choir Olympics, Graz, Austria – 1st place in the large choir category (Olympic championship title)

2008 Príma Award

2009 KOTA Award

2010 Ambassadors for Pécs – European Capital of Culture

2012 Nomination for the ICMA International Record Award for the CD recording of Ferenc Erkel’s choral works for male voice

2013 Istanbul Choir Competition: First Prize in the Men’s Choir category and Grand Prize

2014 12th China International Choir Competition: First Place in the Men’s Choir category

Source of image and description: https://bartokbelaferfikar.hu/