In remembrance of Zoltán Kocsis at the Liszt Academy

„He had manifold and strong bonds with the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music: he graduated from here and then, in 1973, became one of the teachers himself, and though he formally ceased his educational activity at the academy at the end of the 70s, he kept returning to his former alma mater. At the „Farewell Festival” before the renovation of the Main Building at Liszt Ferenc Square, he conducted all nine symphonies by Beethoven in a single afternoon-evening with the Hungarian National Philharmonic (completed with students from the Liszt Academy) and also returned regularly since the restoration project had been finished: held several masterclasses and conducted the Liszt Academy Symphony Orchestra.  He was no easy teacher; his pupils often came out of his classes weeping, yet they were devoted to him. Because he was the embodiment of music, all of his gestures carried music, and any kind of contact with him had serious and uplifting consequences.” –  as the president of the Liszt Academy, Dr. Andrea Vigh put it in her farewell address, which can be read in full length here. 

Zoltán Kocsis and the Liszt Academy Symphony Orchestra (Photo: The Liszt Academy / László Mudra)

The students, teachers and the staff of the Liszt Academy took their last farewells from the great son of the institution in the Grand Hall on 7 November.  The commemoration, during which the choir of the Church Music Department conducted by the head of the department, Ágnes Dobszay sang a memorial Gregorian chant devotion, was widely reported by the press. As the TV2 news programme, Tények, quoted the president of the academy, „Zoltán Kocsis was much loved and much acknowledged by the Liszt Academy throughout his life. We felt he was family.” The news programmes of RTL Klub and M5 were initially aired from the Grand Hall of the Liszt Academy, while the Hungarian News Agency (MTI) gave a detailed coverage of the commemoration.

From Tuesday evening onwards, also the general public can pay their last respects at the memorial site next to the main entrance of the Main Building of the Liszt Academy.

Photo: MTI/ Balázs Mohai

In the autumn of 2013, Zoltán Kocsis confided his feelings for his alma mater to the Liszt Academy Concert Magazine (first edition) upon the official re-opening of the institution. As he put it: „For me, the Grand Hall is the holy shrine of music, the apotheosis of a concert hall”.
 

Photo: Gábor Fejér (source: Liszt Academy Concert Magazine)