HALASZ, MICHAEL (b 1938 )

“One of the Top Ten Recordings of 2000…A terrific performance at any price.” Opera News review of Fidelio conducted on Naxos by Michael Halász.

Michael Halász’s first engagement as a conductor was at the Munich Gärtnerplatztheater where, between 1972 and 1975, he directed all operetta productions. In 1975 he moved to Frankfurt to work as principal Kapellmeister with Christoph von Dohnányi and here he conducted the most important works of the operatic repertoire. Many engagements as a guest conductor followed and in 1977 Dohnányi engaged him as principal Kapellmeister at the Staatsoper in Hamburg. From 1978 to 1991 he was General Musical Director of the Hagen Opera House and in 1991 he took up the post of Resident Conductor at the Vienna State Opera.

For Naxos, Michael Halász has recorded works by Tchaikovsky (ballets), Wagner (operatic excerpts), symphonies by Beethoven, Schubert and Mahler, Rossini’s overtures and two volumes of Liszt’s symphonic poems, the latter described by the Penguin Guide as “one of the most successful collections of Liszt’s symphonic poems to have emerged in recent years”.

Beyond the standard and purely orchestral repertoire he has recorded Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater and Orfeo (Naxos 8.550766), Mozart’s Mass in C minor and his Kyrie in D minor (Naxos 8.554421), Richard Strauss’s Bourgeois Gentilhomme (Naxos 8.553379), Beethoven’s Creatures of Prometheus (Naxos 8.553404), cello concertos by Dvořák, Elgar, Dohnányi and Lalo (Naxos 8.550503, 8.554468, 8.554469 respectively), and Rubinstein’s Violin Concerto (Naxos 8.220359).

For Marco Polo Michael Halász has recorded Rubinstein’s ballet music (Naxos 8.220451) and Don Quixote (Naxos 8.220359) , Goldmark’s Symphony No. 2 (Naxos 8.220417), Miaskovsky’s Symphonies Nos. 7 and 10 (Naxos 8.223113), Schmidt’s Symphony No. 1 (Naxos 8.223119) and a pioneering recording of Schreker’s opera Der ferne Klang (now available on Naxos 8.660074-75). Building on his growing prowess in the opera house, Halász has directed recordings of Fidelio (8.660070–71), Don Giovanni (8.660080–82) and Die Zauberflöte (8.660030–31), for the last of these winning particular critical praise. His most recent complete opera recording was of Le nozze di Figaro (8.660102–04).

Albums featuring this artist are available for download from ClassicsOnline.com
101 CLASSICS - The Best Loved Classical Melodies	8.508004
101 GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS, Vol. 5	8.551145
101 GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS, Vol. 7	8.551147
101 GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS, Vol. 10	8.551150
21ST CENTURY CINEMA CLASSICS	8.556698
A LA DECOUVERTE DU CLASSIQUE	8.550037-38
A TO Z OF CLASSICAL MUSIC (The) (3rd Expanded Edition, 2009)	8.558212-13
A TO Z OF OPERA	8.555037-38
ADAGIO - The Ultimate Collection	8.570015-16
ANDANTE - Classical Favourites for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556606
ANGLAR (Angels)	8.503096
Art & Music: Goya - Music of His Time	8.558178
Art & Music: Klimt - Music of His Time	8.558146
Art & Music: Van Gogh - Music of His Time	8.558068
BALLET FAVORITES	8.571082
BEETHOVEN (Eternal)	8.572131
BEETHOVEN (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552105-06
BEETHOVEN : Symphonies Nos. 6 and 1	8.550179
BEETHOVEN : Symphony No. 3	DVDI 1014
BEETHOVEN: Best of Beethoven (The)	8.551101
BEETHOVEN: Creatures of Prometheus (The), Op. 43	8.553404
BEETHOVEN: Essence of the Beethoven Symphonies (The)	8.552203
BEETHOVEN: Fidelio	8.660070-71
BEETHOVEN: Fidelio, Op. 72 (Highlights)	8.557892
BEETHOVEN: Romantic Beethoven (The)	8.552213
BEETHOVEN: Romantic Beethoven (The)	8.570078
BEETHOVEN: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 6	7165
BEETHOVEN: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 6	8.571011
BEETHOVEN: Symphonies Nos. 3 and 8	7164
BEETHOVEN: Symphonies Nos. 3 and 8	8.550178
BEETHOVEN: Symphonies Nos. 3 and 8	8.571010
BEETHOVEN: Symphonies Nos. 5 and 6	8.553224
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 / Leonore Overture No. 1	7056
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 / Leonore Overture No. 1	8.550112
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 / SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 8	8.553223
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5 / SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 8	8.550289
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 6 / Leonora No. 2	8.550135
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 6 / Leonore Overture No. 2	7057
BEST OF BRITISH	8.570573-74
BEST OF NAXOS 1	8.550001
BEST OF NAXOS 2	8.550002
BEST OF NAXOS 9 (THE)	8.551202
BEST OF OPERA	8.570048
BEST OF OPERA I	8.571079
BEST OF OPERA II	8.571080
BEST OF OPERA, VOL. 1	8.553166
BEST OF OPERA, VOL. 2	8.553167
BEST OF OPERA, VOL. 3	8.553168
BEST OF OPERA, VOL. 4	8.554682
BEST OF OPERA, VOL. 5	8.554683
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4 / Academic Festival Overture	7027
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4 / Academic Festival Overture	8.550130
BRUCH, M.: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2 (Weimar Staatskapelle, Halasz)	8.570994
CENTRE (THE), Vol. 1	8.554901-02DX
CENTRE (THE), Vol. 2	8.554903-04DX
Children's Classics Vol. 1	8.554571
CHILL WITH SCHUBERT	8.556791
CHILL WITH TCHAIKOVSKY	8.556785
CHRISTMAS (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.570344-45
CINEMA CLASSICS (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.578021-22
CINEMA CLASSICS 1998	8.551182
CINEMA CLASSICS 1999	8.551183
CINEMA CLASSICS 2003	8.556696
CINEMA CLASSICS 2004	8.556813
CINEMA CLASSICS 2006	8.556833
CINEMA CLASSICS 2007	8.556834
CINEMA CLASSICS, Vol. 2	8.556622
CINEMA CLASSICS, Vol. 3	8.556623
CINEMA CLASSICS, Vol. 5	8.556625
CINEMA CLASSICS, Vol. 8	8.556628
CLASSICAL CHILLOUT - The Essential Collection	8.570223-24
CLASSICAL INSPIRATIONS, Vol. 2	8.551236
CLASSICAL MARCHES	8.550532DX
CLASSICAL MOMENTS 4: Classical Music for the Home	8.555360
CLASSICAL MOMENTS 5: Classical Music to Dine to	8.555361
Classical Music From TV Advert	8.554589
CLASSICS AT THE MOVIES - SUSPENSE	8.556810
Classics at the Movies: Comedy 2	8.556812
CLASSICS AT THE MOVIES: DIVAS	8.556806
DISCOVER CHORAL MUSIC	8.558198-99
DISCOVER CLASSICAL MUSIC	8.550008-09
Discover Music of the Classical Era	8.558180-81
Discover Music of the Romantic Era	8.558155-56
DISCOVER OPERA	8.558196-97
Discover the Classics, Vol. 2	8.554246-47
DISCOVER THE CLASSICS, VOL. 1	8.550035-36
DISCOVER THE SYMPHONY (1998 edition)	8.554337-38
DISCOVER THE SYMPHONY (2008 edition)	8.558208-09
DOHNANYI: Konzertstuck for Cello / Cello Sonata / Ruralia Hungarica	8.554468
DVORAK (THE BEST OF)	8.556661
DVORAK (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552139-40
DVORAK / ELGAR: Cello Concertos	8.550503
DVORAK : Best Of Dvorak (The)	8.551111
EASTER ALBUM (AN)	8.570175-76
ELEGIE - Classical Favourites for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556612
ELGAR (THE BEST OF)	8.556672
ELGAR (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552133-34
ELGAR: Cello Concerto / Introduction and Allegro / Serenade for Strings	8.554409
ENKELIN AANIN (Angel's Voices)	8.503147
FAMOUS MARCHES	8.571074
FAMOUS OPERA CHORUSES	8.571078
FAMOUS OPERA OVERTURES	8.571093
FAMOUS OVERTURES	8.553627
FAMOUS TENOR ARIAS (Thomas Harper)	8.550497
Fantasia	8.551166
FAURE: Requiem / PERGOLESI: Stabat Mater	8.553260
FLOWERING OF LOVE, (THE) - Beautiful Arias and Sacred Songs of the Baroque	8.570156-57
German Operatic Choruses	8.550507
GOLDMARK: Symphony No. 2, Op. 35 / Penthesilea, Op. 31	8.220417
Gramophone Awards 2000	8.555303
GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS 5 (Australia)	8.570040
GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS 7 (Australia)	8.570042
GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS 10 (Australia)	8.570045
GREAT WALTZES (The) - The Essential Collection	8.578041-42
IMMORTAL BEETHOVEN	8.551165
IN MEMORIAM - MUSIC FOR SOLEMN OCCASIONS	8.553435
Intermezzo: Intermezzi from Operas	8.554703
Intermezzo: Intermezzos from Carmen, Cavalleria Rusiticana, Pagliacci and more	8.570046
JOACHIM, J.: Violin Concerto, Op. 11, "In the Hungarian Style" / Violin Concerto in G minor, Op. 3 (Suyoen Kim, Staatskapelle Weimar, Halasz)	8.570991
KLASSISKA FAVORITER: OPERA (Classical Favourites: Opera)	8.503021
KLASSISKT A-O (The A to Z of Classical Music)	8.553362
LA CELLISSIMA	8.551094
LALO: Cello Concerto in D minor / Cello Sonata	8.554469
Largo al Factotum	8.555922DX
LARGO AL FACTOTUM: Great Operatic Arias for Baritone	8.555922
LISZT (THE BEST OF)	8.556667
LISZT : The Best of Liszt	8.551117
LISZT: Symphonic Poems, Vol. 1	8.550487
LISZT: Symphonic Poems, Vol. 2	8.553355
LISZT: Symphonic Poems, Vol. 3	8.557846
LISZT: Symphonic Poems, Vol. 4	8.557847
MAHLER: Lied von der Erde (Das)	8.550933
MAHLER: Symphony No. 1, 'Titan'	8.550522
MAHLER: Symphony No. 7	8.550531
MAHLER: Symphony No. 9	8.550535-36
MARCHES (FAMOUS)	8.553596
Marco Polo - The Label of Discovery: Sampler 1	8.223001
MCCLEERY, D.: Discover Music of the Romantic Era (Unabridged)	NA495212
MOZART - Fran underbarn till mastare	8.503181
MOZART (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552111-12
MOZART: Ave verum corpus / Sacred Music	8.571102
MOZART: Colours of Mozart	8.551238
MOZART: Don Giovanni	8.660080-82
MOZART: Don Giovanni (Highlights)	5.110011
MOZART: Don Giovanni (Highlights)	8.557893
MOZART: Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492 (Highlights)	5.110014
MOZART: Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492 (Highlights)	6.110014
MOZART: Mass No. 18 in C minor, K. 427, 'Great' / Kyrie in D minor, K. 341	8.554421
MOZART: Nozze di Figaro (Le) (The Marriage of Figaro)	8.660102-04
MOZART: Zauberflote (Die) (The Magic Flute)	8.660030-31
MOZART: Zauberflote (Die) (The Magic Flute) (Highlights)	8.553438
Music and Video Club Vol. 2 (UK Only)	8.555082
Music Together	8.557363DX
MUSICAL JOURNEY (A) - FLORENCE: A Musical Tour of the City's Past and Present (NTSC)	2.110513
MUSICAL JOURNEY (A) - ROME: A Musical Tour of the City's Past and Present (NTSC)	2.110504
MUSICAL JOURNEY (A) - ST PETERSBURG: Palaces of the Tsars (NTSC)	2.110511
MUSICAL JOURNEY (A) - TUSCANY: A Musical Tour of the Region's Past and Present (NTSC)	2.110520
MUSICAL JOURNEY (A) - VIENNA: A Musical Tour of the City's Past and Present (NTSC)	2.110502
MYASKOVSKY: Symphonies Nos. 7 and 10	8.223113
NAXOS SELECTION: Highlights	8.571000
NESSUN DORMA - ARIAS FOR TENOR	8.571086
NESSUN DORMA AND OTHER FAVOURITE ITALIAN TENOR ARIAS	8.554065
NIGHT AT THE OPERA (A)	8.554575
NIGHT MUSIC 2	8.556816
NIGHT MUSIC, VOL. 6	8.556820
NIGHT MUSIC, VOL. 8	8.556822
OPERA AT THE MOVIES	8.551164
OPERA WITHOUT WORDS - The Most Famous Overtures, Preludes, and Interludes in Opera	8.557945-46
OPERA'S GREATEST MOMENTS	8.557926-27
PANDA CLASSICS - Issue No. 4: Toon Time	8.578011-12
PANDA CLASSICS - Issue Nos. 1-3 (3CD box set)	8.503204
PASTORALE - Classical Favourites for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556608
PERFECT ROMANCE	8.570029
PERGOLESI: Stabat Mater / Orfeo	8.550766
PUCCINI (THE BEST OF)	8.556670
PUCCINI (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552119-20
PUCCINI : The Best OF Puccini	8.551120
RAABE, W.: Schwarze Galeere (Die) (gekurzt)	NHB10252
RACHMANINOV (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552113-14
REJOICE - A Vision of Christ Through Music	8.570980
Requiem: Classical Music for Reflection and Meditation	8.556703
ROSSINI (THE BEST OF)	8.556683
ROSSINI: Overtures	8.550236
RUBINSTEIN: Feramors / The Demon / Nero	8.220451
RUBINSTEIN: Violin Concerto / CUI: Suite Concertante	8.555244
RUBINSTEIN: Violin Concerto, Op. 46 / Don Quixote, Op. 87	8.220359
RUSSIAN FAVORITES	8.571094
Russian Fireworks	8.550328
SCHMIDT, F.: Symphony No. 1 / Notre Dame	8.223119
SCHREKER: Der Ferne Klang	8.223270-71
SCHREKER: Ferne Klang (Der)	8.660074-75
SCHUBERT (THE BEST OF)	8.556666
SCHUBERT: Best of Schubert (The)	8.551116
SCHUBERT: Romantic Schubert (The)	8.552215
SCHUBERT: Romantic Schubert (The)	8.570080
SCHUBERT: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2	8.553093
SCHUBERT: Symphonies Nos. 3 and 6	8.553094
SCHUBERT: Symphonies Nos. 5 and 8 / Rosamunde	8.550145
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 4 / Symphony in C Major	8.553095
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 9, 'Great'	8.553096
SOPRANO ARIAS (Marina Mescheriakova)	8.557109
Stabat Mater: Classical Music for Reflection and Meditation	8.556706
STOR MUSIK FOR SMA ORON (Big Music for Little Ears) - Children's Music Compilation	8.503156
STRAUSS II, J.: Aschenbrodel (Vienna State Opera Ballet, 1999) (NTSC)	2055928
STRAUSS, R.: 4 Last Songs / 6 Lieder / Ariadne auf Naxos (excerpts)	8.570283
STRAUSS, R.: Bourgeois Gentilhomme (Le) / Intermezzo, Op. 72	8.553379
STRAUSS, R.: Symphony No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 12	8.220358
SVEN GORAN ERIKSSONS - Klassiska Favoriter	8.503135
SVENSKA FOLKETS ONSKEKONSERT	8.557192
SYMPHONIC COLLECTION (THE)	7201
TCHAIKOVSKY (THE BEST OF)	8.556652
TCHAIKOVSKY (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552117-18
TCHAIKOVSKY: Highlights from Nutcracker and Swan Lake	8.571069
TCHAIKOVSKY: Nutcracker (The) / Swan Lake (excerpts)	8.550050
TCHAIKOVSKY: Nutcracker (The) / Swan Lake (excerpts)	8.550050DX
TCHAIKOVSKY: Nutcracker (The) / Swan Lake / Sleeping Beauty (Highlights)	8.553271
TCHAIKOVSKY: Nutcracker / RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Christmas Eve (Children's Classics)	8.555342
TCHAIKOVSKY: The Best Of Tchaikovsky	8.551102
Ten Years Of Success	8.554103
TONER TILL TROST (Music for Comfort)	8.503158
ULTIMATE BALLET ALBUM (THE)	8.570011-12
VERDI (THE BEST OF)	8.556669
VERDI (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552121-22
VERY BEST OF LISZT (THE)	8.552131-32
VOCALISE - Classical Favourites for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556602
Voices of Angels	8.503071
WAGNER / LISZT / RAVEL / TCHAIKOVSKY: Orchestral Spectacular	8.571081
WAGNER : The Best of Wagner	8.551107
WAGNER, R. (THE BEST OF)	8.556657
WAGNER, R.: Orchestral Highlights from Operas	8.550136
WAGNER: Orchestral Highlights	8.571073