At the invitation of Bishop János Scitovszky in 1846, Ferenc Liszt visited Pécs where he gave two very successful concerts. As a result of this historic music event, the Pécs Choir called Pécs Dalárda was established a year later which, for decades, played a significant role in music life not only in Pécs but also in Hungary and abroad as well. The first choral society in Pécs ceased its activities due to the dramatic events of the following years, but following the Austro-Hungarian Compromise in 1861, musicians in Pécs resumed rehearsals in the house at 12 Apáca Street, which is marked by a memorial plaque displayed in 1932. The four-voice male choir was officially re-established a year later.
The repertoire of the choir was greatly influenced by the church music history of Pécs and the singing traditions brought by members of the German-speaking middle-class who had settled down in Pécs. As a result of these events, Pécs hosted the highly successful national choral festival in 1864 which was followed by the formation of the Hungarian National Choral Society.
In the following decades, Pécs Dalárda, the first civic choir in the country, achieved great success at national choral competitions, for instance, second prize in Nagyvárad in 1872, and first prize in Debrecen in 1868, in Kolozsvár in 1882, in Debrecen in 1884, in Miskolc in, and in Budapest in 1892. In 1892, they received the title of Exemplary Choral Society (“Mintadalárda”). Meanwhile, the choir designed its flag as a symbol of unity which was consecrated by “flag mother”, the wife of György Majláth (widowed at the time). The flag ceremony was part of a national choral festival held in a large wooden stadium, temporarily built for this event, at Majláth Square, now Kossuth Square, in 1886. Inspired by the choir’s successful concert on the 100th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth in 1870, Franz S. Hölzl, a conductor-composer based in Pécs, gave the choir a lock of Beethoven’s hair that was in his possession. They carefully preserved the hair until the choir was banned in 1949. Outstanding figures of the Hungarian music scene including Ferenc Liszt, Ferenc Erkel and Mihály Mosonyi, as well as other noble figures of Pécs and Baranya County were honorary members of the choir.
Meanwhile, the choir went on two highly successful international trips. In 1879, on the silver wedding anniversary of King Franz Joseph I and his wife, Elisabeth (popularly known as “Sissy”), Pécs Dalárda with only 19 members along with Wiener Mannergesangverein with over 100 members, which was regarded as one the best choirs in the world, received great acclaim at the concert held in Vienna. During their tour in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland their concerts were highly praised in cities that were famous for their civic choral singing movement. From the mid of the 1890s to the 1910s, the choir successfully participated in the events organised by the Transdanubian Choral Society. In 1902, Lajos Haksch published a book about the choir’s history in honour of the fortieth anniversary of the choir’s foundation.
They established a women’s choir on several occasions throughout their operation. Pécs Association of Music Lovers Orchestra was founded in 1895 with members including wind instrument players from the military, music school teachers and students, choir members, and opera singers of Pécs Theatre – also opened in 1895. Their concert repertoire receiving acclaim nationwide included classical pieces by Haydn, Mozart, Rossini, and Verdi. They were personally acquainted with the renowned musician Verdi. They gave concerts at church and civic music events in Pécs, in Baranya County and in the region, and they participated in music events organised by other choral societies across the country.
Their musical activities were hampered by World War I. After the entente-Serbian occupation of Southern Transdanubia, the choir saw its second revival. They established four voices including tenor 1 and 2, and bass 1 and 2 – often accompanied by female singers.
In 1925 at the National Choral Contest in Sopron they were awarded the highest prize, the King’s Prize. The 1930s was a glorious decade for Pécs Dalárda. On many occasions, they participated in Pécs Festival, held in front of Pécs Cathedral, which was conceived by Béla Bartók and organised by various musical groups in Pécs. The prominent event received nationwide publicity in the Hungarian press. Radio broadcasts about Pécs Day presenting the rich cultural scene of Pécs always featured Pécs Dalárda. The regularly organised concerts in honour of their famous tenor singer, Károly Hoffer, gradually evolved into youth choral contests which have become the “Singing Youth” Movement inspired by Bartók, Kodály, and Bárdos.
The years after 1945 were characterized by decline and changes in the choir’s management. In these years they mainly focused on organising a festive event in 1948 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of their first establishment as well as of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. The event was attended by many prominent local and national guests.
The last two years was a period of constant struggle. When the decree on the dissolution of associations was issued in 1949, Pécs Dalárda was forced to cease its activities as well. All their cups, medals, flags, music sheets, official documents, and other valuables were transferred to Janus Pannonius Museum. Then, in 1973 the documents and music sheets were transferred to the local archives and now they are accessible to researchers in the local archives department in Rét Street. Beethoven’s lock of hair is preserved in the Museum of Music History in Budapest.
For many years now, Pécs Society for the Preservation and Development of Architecture and Baranya County Association of the Association of Hungarian Choirs and Orchestras have organised Pécs Choral Day every year at the end of March to commemorate the founding meeting of Pécs Dalárda. At the beginning of the event, the participants pay tribute to Pécs Dalárda by performing a ceremony and by placing a wreath at the memorial plaque in Apáca Street.
In the same spirit, the singers participating in Europe Cantat that was organised in Pécs paid tribute to Pécs Dalárda by reciting the choir’s motto: “Our sweet homeland, our dear song, we live for you, we die for you.”