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Robi LakatoshViolinist, composer, jazzman of gypsy origin, descendant of Janos Bihari
Country:
 Hungary |
Content:
- Biography of Roby Lakatos
- A Unique Musician
- A Musical Upbringing
- A Rising Star
- Accomplishments and Recognition
- An International Sensation
- Television and Recognition
Biography of Roby Lakatos
A Talented MusicianRoby Lakatos is a renowned violinist, composer, and jazz musician of Hungarian Gypsy descent, and a direct descendant of János Bihari. Born in 1968 in Hungary, he has gained fame for his exceptional musical talent and his distinctive appearance, which has also led to his involvement in films. Several films featuring him as a composer and performer have already been released. His life story is certainly worth telling.
A Unique Musician
Lakatos is a rare and versatile musician of our time, possessing the gift of an improviser and composer, which enables him to create vibrant interpretations. He strives to create "music of the new century" and rarely plays popular violin pieces, as he believes that others do it better. However, he improvises inspirationally on the themes of classical composers, especially Bach. He blends the sounds of birdsong with human vocal intonations, producing astonishing musical effects. He merges Bach with jazz, adding a Gypsy flavor. Whether it is classical or jazz, Lakatos feels equally at ease, just as he does with his native Hungarian folk music. His versatility allows him to perform with the greats of all genres, such as Stéphane Grappelli, Giora Feidman, Herbie Hancock, Vadim Repin, Leila Josefowicz, and Randy Brecker.
A Musical Upbringing
"When I was 2 years old," says Lakatos, "I had a little violin. Our house was filled with music, so I tried to reproduce everything I heard." At the age of 5, Roby was introduced to the secrets of Gypsy music. Among his mentors were Tony and Shandor Lakatos, among others. In fact, according to Roby, everyone in the Lakatos family is a violinist, except his older brother Tomi, who plays the saxophone. It was from Tomi that Roby inherited his love for jazz music. Roby first performed in public when he was 9 years old. Despite being raised in a family musical tradition, Lakatos also studied violin at the Béla Bartók Conservatory in Budapest, where he was awarded the first prize in 1984.
A Rising Star
After completing his studies at the Budapest Conservatory, he was offered a three-month contract in Belgium. "I didn't expect much from it," he says, "but it ended up with me opening my own club." People began coming there not just for food but to listen to the music. Legendary violinist Yehudi Menuhin admired Lakatos' playing and always visited his club, where Lakatos performed from 1986 to 1996. Now Lakatos regularly performs in prestigious venues such as Santa Cecilia in Rome, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Tonhalle in Zurich, MusikHalle in Hamburg, and Santori Hall in Tokyo. Riccardo Muti invited Lakatos to participate in a festival in Ravenna. Lakatos also regularly attends festivals in Lucerne, Montpellier, Verbier, the Rhineland, Schleswig-Holstein, Ludwigsburg, Bremen, Brisbane, the Promenade Concerts in London, and more.
Accomplishments and Recognition
Lakatos performs his own arrangements with orchestras such as the National Orchestra of France, the chamber orchestra of the German Philharmonic, the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, and the Orchestra of the Romanche Switzerland. When Lakatos first heard Zubin Mehta, he immediately invited him to participate in the production of "Die Fledermaus" at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. Roby Lakatos has also performed at the folk violin festival in Central Park in New York, the Louvre in Paris, and the famous jazz club Ronnie Scott's in London. He has performed as a soloist with the big band of the Frankfurt Radio. In 2001, he toured Russia (Moscow and St. Petersburg), where he had resounding success.
An International Sensation
Lakatos regularly tours Asia, performing in Beijing, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. The success of his first tour in 1999 was such that he has been returning there every year since. In Asia, he engages in musical dialogues with local musicians and improvises with some of them during concerts. Lakatos is the first and only Gypsy violinist in the world to be offered an exclusive contract by a major recording company. His debut CD, released by Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft, sold over 100,000 copies and was honored with the prestigious German Echo-Klassik award. His second concert CD, "Live in Budapest," was recorded when he returned to his hometown after a long hiatus.
Television and Recognition
Lakatos regularly appears on Hungarian, Belgian, and German television, and he is invited to participate in productions by many German channels, as well as RAI in Italy, BBC in London, and NHK in Japan.
