Ervin Nyiregyhazi

Short bio Ervin Nyiregyhazi

Birthday: 1903 in Budapest, Hungary

Died: 1987 in Los Angeles, CA

Genre: Classical

Period: Contemporary, Modern, Romantic

Full biography Ervin Nyiregyhazi

Ervin Nyiregyhazi (1903 – 1987) was a Hungarian-American pianist and composer. He was considered to be a prodigy in his early years and gained fame for his outstanding performances in Europe and the United States. Nyiregyhazi's compositions were often written in a romantic style and characterized by complex harmonies and fluid melodies.

Despite his early success, he struggled with personal and financial difficulties throughout his life, which led to periods of neglect and obscurity. He was known to have a tumultuous personal life and struggled with alcoholism and homelessness, which contributed to his eventual decline.

Despite his challenges, Nyiregyhazi continued to perform and compose throughout his life. He was renowned for his interpretations of Liszt, Chopin, and other Romantic composers and is still considered one of the most distinctive and idiosyncratic pianists of the 20th century. He is also known for composing works such as "The Bluebird" and "Lullaby," which have been recorded by various performers.

Overall, Nyiregyhazi's life and musical career were marked by great highs and lows, and his work has been celebrated for its unique contributions to the piano and composition repertoire.

Compositions featuring Ervin Nyiregyhazi

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Paraphrase for piano of Leoncavallo's "I Pagliacci"	6:34 min	Keyboard	-
2	Paraphrase for piano of Verdi's "Il Trovatore"	9:36 min	Keyboard	-
3	Paraphrase for piano of Wagner's "Rienzi" and "Lohengrin"	12:04 min	Keyboard	-
4	Paraphrase on Themes from Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin" for piano	9:33 min	Keyboard	-
5	Paraphrase on Themes from Verdi's "Otello" for piano	9:20 min	Keyboard	-
6	Paraphrase on Themes from Verdi's "Un Ballo in Maschera" for piano	8:19 min	Keyboard	-

Albums featuring Ervin Nyiregyhazi

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Nyiregyházi Live Vol. 2: Forest Hill Clubhouse, 1973 / Last recordings, 1982 / Photobook: Nyiregyházi in Japan, 1982(2×CD, Album, Remastered, Stereo, Mono)	2020	Sonetto Classics
2	Nyiregyházi Live, Vol. 1: The Century Club of California, 1972(2×CD, Album, Stereo, Mono)	2017	Sonetto Classics
3	Nyiregyhazi At The Opera(CD, Album, Mono)	1992	VAI Audio
4	Nyiregyházi	1979	Columbia Masterworks
5	Nyiregyházi Plays Liszt	1978	CBS/Sony
6	Ervin Nyiregyházi / Liszt – Nyiregyházi Plays Liszt	1977	International Piano Archives

Videos featuring Ervin Nyiregyhazi

Ervin Nyiregyhazi: Tchaikovsky: Warum? Op.6, No.5

Just for fun, imagine Nyiregyhazi accompanying a singer.

Here is the great Teresa Zylis-Gara: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3uQwxVSfjc

released in 1979 https://www.discogs.com/Ervin-Nyiregyh%C3%A1zi-Ny

Ervin Nyiregyhazi: Grieg: Waltz in A minor Op.12, No.2 Allegro moderato

Parallel fifths abound in this delightful miniature by Grieg. Here, Nyiregyhazi feels no need to reinforce the bass, omit segments, or make any of his characteristic changes. In fact,

Ervin Nyiregyhazi: Blanchet: Au jardin du vieux Serail Op.18, No.3

Nyiregyhazi takes a repeat from the end back to 'Sontuoso'.

There is a piano roll recording by Nyiregyhazi, transferred to MIDI and replayed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH3a6XbNg

Ervin Nyiregyhazi: Tchaikovsky: Romance in F minor Op.5

Nyiregyhazi sometimes omits bars, especially if they repeat themselves. But on the other hand, he'll repeat a section as he does here, erupting into a fortissimo variation in his own signature style.

Ervin Nyiregyhazi: Bortkiewicz: Spain (Serenade) Op.21, No.10 Allegro

This one is not very accurate. The left hand seems particularly inebriated here. Nyiregyhazi does his own thing in the coda.

Compare this more conventional reading: https://www.youtube.

Ervin Nyiregyhazi: Bortkiewicz: Venice (Song of the Gondolier) Op.21, No.7 Poco moto

This lazy gondolier is so 'poco moto' that we are practically at a standstill. The passengers will have to hail a vaporetto. Notice how Nyiregyhazi de-synchronises the ri

Ervin Nyiregyhazi: Tchaikovsky: Waltz in A-flat Op.40, No.8

It is hard to tell if he gets lost in a few places, or whether he means to omit some segments.

released in 1979 https://www.discogs.com/Ervin-Nyiregyh%C3%A1zi-Nyiregyh%C3%A1zi/master/927939

Ervin Nyiregyhazi: Grieg: Shepherd Boy Op.54, No.1

Nyiregyhazi is not at his best in this one. Around 'cresc e stretto' he skips two bars. Just before 'Tempo I' he forgets how the repeated notes go. In the last few bars, he plays the theme unaccompanied,

Ervin Nyiregyhazi: Bortkiewicz: In Poland Op.21, No.6 Tempo di Mazurka

Nyiregyhazi makes this little mazurka his own by repeating certain sections, omitting a brief contrasting section, and altering the melodic line in the minor section.

Here's a staight

Ervin Nyiregyhazi: Grieg: Sie Tantz Op.57, No.5

In my opinion, this LP is the best example we have of Nyiregyhazi's playing. He wasn't often recorded professionally on a decent piano, but this LP sounds good, and these colourful miniatures seem to suit hi