Georg Solti Quotes

A collection of quotes by Georg Solti.

Georg Solti, born as György Stern in Budapest, Hungary, on October 21, 1912, was a highly acclaimed orchestral and opera conductor. He demonstrated his prodigious musical talents at a young age, excelling as a pianist and composer. However, due to rising anti-Semitism in Hungary, Solti decided to change his name and escape to Switzerland in 1938.

Solti's career truly soared when he moved to the United Kingdom in 1952. He became the music director of the Frankfurt Opera, quickly earning a reputation for his passionate and highly disciplined conducting style. In 1961, Solti was appointed the music director of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, where he conducted numerous landmark performances.

However, it was during his long tenure as the music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) from 1969 to 1991 that Solti achieved worldwide recognition and garnered numerous awards. Under his leadership, the CSO won 31 Grammy Awards, including several for "Best Classical Album." Solti's demanding musical standards and tenacious work ethic resulted in extraordinary performances and recordings, making him one of the most celebrated conductors of the 20th century.

Georg Solti's passion for music was relentless throughout his career, and he was known for his intense dedication to interpreting the works of composers such as Wagner, Mahler, and Strauss. His ability to bring out the subtleties and nuances in music made him a revered and influential figure in the world of classical music. Solti's legacy lives on through his extensive discography, including over 250 recordings, and his profound impact on the musicians he worked with and the audiences he captivated. He passed away on September 5, 1997, in Antibes, France, leaving an indelible mark on the world of classical music.

Friends are very important to me, and I have always had many

Friends are very important to me, and I have always had many of them. There are probably many reasons why this is so, but two seem to me more valid than any of the others I am a naturally friendly person, and I hate to be alone.

Georg Solti


During the first six years of my life, Hungary was one of th

During the first six years of my life, Hungary was one of the most important components of the Habsburg dynasty's vast Austro-Hungarian Empire, but after World War I it became an independent national entity.

Georg Solti

Life War

I would never have become music director of the Chicago Symp

I would never have become music director of the Chicago Symphony, which would have been an extremely sad loss.

Georg Solti

Sad

My entire learning process is slow, because I have no visual

My entire learning process is slow, because I have no visual memory.

Georg Solti

Learning