Biography

The pianist, Thurzó Zoltán was born in Oradea on 13^th of January 1983.

He began his musical studies at age of five in his hometown, he was supervised by piano teacher Magda Schmidt. One year later (4^th of June 1989) he already appeared at public piano concert. In 2001 he graduated Music High-school, as student of the composer / piano teacher RidzykGyöngyi from Oradea, and piano teacher PallagiIldikó. In the same year it was accepted with success tothe piano department of the University of Oradea, where his professional activity and evolution was supervised by Pârvănescu Lucia respectively Badea-Ficuţ Nicoleta. In 2006 he obtained the piano player diploma / piano teacher – as the studentBadea-Ficuţ Nicoleta.

Performer, who during and after finalizing his studies has concerts regularly in Oradea and other cities from Romania and abroad. One of the most active pianists of his generation.

His performance, enthusiasm, attitude to music are recognized both as a soloist and in chamber orchestra. The number of hisappearances on stage approaches 1000. Awarded and the winner of a number of competitions.

In 2006 and 2007 Oradea City Hall nominated him for the Excellence Award in the category of “Young Artists”. On the 22^nd of January 2012, on the Day of Hungarian Culture, The Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania gave him the Hungarian Culture Award in recognition of his performance.

He grew up in a family of musicians that for several generations were involved in the musical life of Oradea so that they formed a part of the musical history of the city.

The Thurzó family not only takes / took part in the formation of the city’s culture, but it is only one that in its history, archives the musical life of Oradea, from the founding of the city, starting from several centuries ago and up to the present. ThurzóSándorthe historian, musicologist, violinist (17^th of march 1920 – 6^th of september 2009) advised the by the lawyer and musician Dr.SzalayElemér began nearly 100 years ago to gather the unique documentation that constitutes the archive, including the history of music for nearly a thousand years. He was interested in the musical history of the city already in his youth, and was supported for a lifetime by his wife, the opera singer and tapestry artist, born Tyukodi Margit (16^th of September 1921 – 21^st of December 2002).

 

The purpose of the family – that started with the work ofThurzóSándor – is exploring the musical life of Oradea, and to make it flourish, raising its rank and professional prestige. There are few cities the musical background of which is followed by a single family thatkeeps research results with so much accuracy for several generations, even today.

The children of ThurzóSándor and Tyukodi Margit, Thurzó Margit Terézia (who by profession was a dental technician, but has learned to play the violin, piano, flute),respectively ThurzóSándorJózsef (musician who played viola) joined the organization of the details of the documentation.

ThurzóZoltán as the member of the third generation joined this “family tradition” and with small steps he also contributes / has contributed to the continuous updating of this archive / research, respectively keeping up to date the documentation. He continues the “family tradition” in many respects. After the death of ThurzóSándor in 2009, together with his mother (Margit ThurzóTerézia) took over the family archivedocuments related to the musical sphere of Oradea. His goal is: to provide future generations the unique past and the present of the music of the city.

Through his concerts he wants his audience to become more open towards other nations and other cultures, too.

An important part of his work constitute those solo performances / concerts / chamber concertsthrough which he interprets the art of:Johann Sebastian Bach, Michael Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, John Field, Robert Schumann, Franz Schubert, Frédéric Chopin, Liszt Ferenc, SergeiRachmaninov, Jean Sibelius, Erik Satie, Richard Addinsell, Bartók Béla, Kodály Zoltán, Sigismund Toduţă, George Enescu, Elise Popovici, Dan Voiculescu, MarcoAurelioBritoCoutinho, Amaral Vieira.

In Romania and later in Brazil his talent was noticed by famous composers already is his childhood.

Several compositions were dedicated to him: Elise Popovici: 1989 – Story; 1990 – Joy, Song; 1991 – Memories, Play; 1993 – Theme and Variations for four hands; Dan Voiculescu: 1993 – Transylvanian Evening Song; Marco A.B.Coutinho: 2002 – CalmariaNo.4., 2009 -Toccata op.114, op.123 Miss., 2010 – ZsoltFoggarasy: The Other Side, 2017 – Fábio Neves: Prelude Op.20, Nr.7, 2018 – Rafael Ribeiro: Ciranda – da suite Aumentada.

He also appears on the CD that contains Marco Aurelio BritoCoutinho’s compositions, the Brazilian composer, besides several performers invited by him, registration that is marketed with great success in Brazil.

Actively participates in the musical life of Oradea not only as an interpreter but also as a concert organizer. More concert series from countyBihor and Oradea are connected to his name, which are the most visited concerts. Organizes various classical music concerts that is followed by the public with huge attention respectively visited in large numbers.

At concertsorganized by him, so far, the halls were filled entirely in several places in county Bihor, respectively also in other counties, cities – where this happened very rarely before. His concerts are characterized by great success.

In 2009 he founded the Association of Art “Classic Arts”, and became its president. The aim of the association is to realize a new and high quality musical vision, with the help and by protecting young talented artists.

During piano tourshe tries to propagate classical music byspecial and unique concerts. He talks about musical pieces, general information about music, curiosities and these special concerts generally take place in every locality, town with full halls. He wishes to support the audience so that they will have a better understanding of music by trying to build a bridge between classical music and the public. Sometimes he talks – sings to people at candlelight about the genius artists of old times.

A few years earlier Arabesque Op.18 by Robert Schumann, in his performance was chosen as the best, on several professional web pages respectively related to the art of music. His name was mentioned between performers like Wilhelm Kempff, Vladimir Horowitz and Emil Gilels.

In October 2015, he held the first piano concert in the history of Oradea Fortress, events that were widely followed by public and also by the press.

During the interactive performances in a new vision that sprung out of his imagination, he presents to the public many of his productions, wishing to draw attention through them, in order to gain the love of the world for the Hungarian nation and also the Hungarian culture. ” Do you like Chopin?”, “The World of Strauss… and beyond”, “Dou you like AntalImre? –In the series SzeszélyesÉvszakok”, ” Composers in Love – how they were in really?!”, ” Beyond music…”, ” Musical Folders”- are just a few titles out of those that he uses to addressthe audience through interactive performances and presented in a special way the circumstances in which different composers lived, the fate of people, the world / eras that were already believed to be lost.

He managed to obtain the unanimous recognition of the public and critics at the same time.

Up to the present he held piano concerts in 15 locations, where piano music for the first time resounded from under his fingers – from X. century buildings and to those built nowadays.

Since January 2016, in his spare time he also deals with the transcription musical works for orchestra for piano. So he wishes to improve the level of traditional transcripts for piano.

He works with musical works for orchestra that so far have not been transcribed so adequately forpiano.

He is one of the artists who, with his sense of purpose on the fist place, seeks to address people from a new perspective, in a different worldview.

It is his belief that music may be a tool to turn the world into a better place.