New President of the Liszt Academy: Dr. Andrea Vigh

Dr. Andrea Vigh was presented the certificate of appointment for the period of November 1, 2013 – October 31, 2018 by the President of Hungary on October 14, 2013. Having served the two previous terms from 2003, Dr. András Batta continues his career as a professor of the Liszt Academy and the government commissioner for classical music.

"138 is not a round number. However it is divisible by 23 with no remainder. According to German researcher Wilhelm Fliess's observations published in 1916, the numbers 23 and 28 play a special role in nature. The latter denotes female, while the former stands for male principles. We, the 21^st century enlightened ones dismiss it as mere superstition. However many found Fliess' analysis convincing at the time, and even the great Einstein had some words of acknowledgment for him. If we do believe Fliess, we have reached the end of six masculine periods – and what an interesting coincidence it is to see the first woman at the head of the Liszt Academy just now: Andrea Vigh. So however we look at it, the 138^th anniversary is not just one of many: it is the end of an era, an outstanding event", writes Sándor Kovács, musicologist, professor and Head of Department at the Liszt Academy, on the occasion of the Génie Oblige! – The Liszt Academy is 138 years old concert where Andrea Vigh takes the stage not (only) as the president, but also as a harpist in the renewed Grand Hall.

Liszt award-winning harpist, Dr. Andrea Vigh began her harp studies at the Bartók Béla Conservatory with Henrik Rohmann, followed by Nóra Mercz. At the Liszt Academy she studied under Hedvig Lubik, graduating as harpist-professor and musicologist in 1986, while her chamber music professor was none other than István Láng.

She was an active member of the Budapest Festival Orchestra between 1993-1996. She appeared on stage at the Salzburg Festival, the European tour led by György Solti and at Bartók anniversary concerts (Paris, New York – Carnegie Hall). In 1994 she was invited to the "Die Beste" program of the ZDF German television channel following the release of her "Harp Concertos" album. Since 1993 she has been giving annual solo concerts at the Liszt Academy. At the finale of the festival held at the Liszt Academy on the occasion of Hungary's accession to the EU in 2004, she appeared in a concert entitled "Chamber Music with Harp" with David Grimal, András Adorján and Miklós Perényi. In the Winter Festive Evenings of 2005 she performed concerts with Ilona Tokody and Éva Marton at the Palace of Arts and the Grand Hall of the Liszt Academy. Several TV recordings have been made of her performances, including a televised portrait film. In 2006 Hungarian Duna television made a documentary on the history of the harp in collaboration with Andrea Vigh, Vilmos Szabadi and András Batta. She has recorded ten solo CDs, most of which were released by Capriccio Records, earning her critical acclaim and sold in great numbers throughout the world. She is a jury member of the international harp competitions in Wales, Gödöllő, Belgrade, Szeged and Arles. She is also the founder and artistic director of the International Harp Festival in Gödöllő, organized annually since 1999. She has been teaching at the Liszt Academy since 1996 and was also Head of Department between 2007-2011 and vice-rector from September 2010. She became habilitated in 2001, earned her "Doctor of Liberal Arts" degree "summa cum laude" in 2009 and was appointed university professor on November 16, 2012.