Aladár Tóth | |
|---|---|
 Tóth (l.) on a poster | |
| Born | 4 February 1898 Székesfehérvár, Hungary |
| Died | 18 October 1968 (aged 70) Budapest, Hungary |
| Occupations |
|
| Organizations | |
| Spouse | Annie Fischer |
| Awards | Kossuth Prize |
Aladár Tóth (4 February 1898 – 28 October 1968) was a Hungarian musicologist and opera manager, regarded as a leading music critic in Hungary between the world wars, writing for Nyugat, among others. He was instrumental in the recognition of composers such as Zoltán Kodály and Béla Bartók. He was general manager of the Hungarian State Opera from 1946 to 1956.
Life and career
Tóth was born in Székesfehérvár on 4 February 1898.[1] He received instructions in both piano and composition in his home town. He then studied at the University of Budapest, achieving a Ph.D. in 1925 with a dissertation about the aesthetics of Mozart's dramatic musi). He worked as a music critic for the newspapers and journals, Új nemzedék from 1920 to 1923, then Pesti napló to 1939. He wrote for Nyugat (West), a progressive journal,[2] from 1923 to 1940. He played a role in the reception of the music by Béla Bartók; in a yearly commentary in Nyugat about the concert season, he regularly emphasised the composer's importance for Hungarian culture, and criticised lack of performances by the major music institutions.[2]
During World War II, the family went to exile first in Sweden[2]: 188 and then lived in Switzerland.[3] They returned to Budapest after the war,[3] and Tóth served as director of the Hungarian State Opera from 1946 to 1956. He received the Kossuth Prize in 1952.
Personal life
Tóth was married in 1937 to the pianist Annie Fischer. He died in Budapest on 28 October 1968.[1]
References
- 1 2 "Aladár Tóth (1898-1968)". BNF (in French). 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- 1 2 3 Bayley, Amanda, ed. (2001). The Cambridge Companion to Bartók. Cambridge University Press. pp. 182–183. ISBN 978-0-52-166958-0.
- 1 2 Greenbank, Stephen (September 2014). "Marek Kopelent". musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
Further reading
- Bónis, Ferenc (2001). "Tóth, Aladár". Grove Music Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.28206. (subscription or UK public library membership required)