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Short Biography

Gilbert Varga, conductor

Gilbert Varga is one of today’s most sought-after conductors. With extensive experience in both chamber orchestra and symphonic repertoire, he has held positions with several orchestras and has guest conducted major orchestras throughout the world.

Born in London, Gilbert Varga began studying violin aged four with his father, Tibor Varga, the famous Hungarian violinist. He went on to study conducting under three very different Maestros (Ferrara, Celibidache and Bruck) and is renowned for his strong and exemplary technique.

The early part of Varga's career concentrated mainly on work with chamber orchestras in Germany and France. From 1980-1985 he was Chief Conductor of the Hofer Symphoniker, and between 1985-1990 he was Chief Conductor of Philharmonia Hungarica, following which his reputation in the symphonic repertoire spread quickly.

Varga now works with many major orchestras. In North America he has conducted the symphony orchestras of Minnesota, Toronto, Milwaukee and Indianapolis, Los Angeles and St Paul Chamber Orchestras and has appeared twice at Aspen Music Festival. In Europe he has conducted the radio orchestras of Frankfurt, Cologne, Munich (Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks), Leipzig (MDR), Rotterdam Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre National de Lille, RAI Turin, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Bamberger Symphoniker, Hallé Orchestra and Gothenburg Symphony. Further afield Varga has also conducted Sydney Symphony and Yomiuri Nippon Symphony in Tokyo.

In the 2001/2 season Varga conducted in Turin, Brussels, Gothenburg, Milwaukee and had hugely successful debuts in Minnesota and St Paul. Future highlights include re-invitations to Milwaukee Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Munich Chamber Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Gurzenich Orchestra and Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, and debuts with St Louis and New Jersey Symphony Orchestras, Bayerische Staatsoper Orchestra and Orquesta Filarmonica de Gran Canaria.

A discography includes recordings with ASV, Discover Records, Tring label and Koch International.

Varga is now in his 5th season as Music Director of the Euskadi Symphony Orchestra (Basque Country).

July 2002/308 words

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