Born in Gyula, county of Békés, Nov 7, 1810
Died in Budapest, June 15, 1893
[FAIR-ents AIR-kel]
- Erkel was a virtuoso pianist and opera conductor based in Budapest.
- Erkel was interested in developing a Hungarian style of composition and took inspiration from Hungarian folk music.
- Erkel is the most prominent figure in the development of 19th-century Hungarian opera.
- Erkel founded something of a musical dynasty: his sons Elek, László, and Sándor also became professional musicians.1
- *In Hungarian, it’s traditional to pronounce the surname first, followed by the given name, ie “Erkel Ferenc.”
Sources
- Dezső Legány, “Erkel “amily,” Grove” Music Online (2001), accessed September 24, 2019, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000008938.