Erno Dohnanyi Program Notes and Sheet Music

Ern? Dohnányi (27 July 1877 – 9 February 1960) was a Hungarian composer, pianist, and conductor. He was one of the most important composers of the late Romantic and early 20th centuries.

Dohnányi was born in Budapest, Hungary, into a musical family. His father was a pianist and conductor, and his mother was a singer. He began studying piano at the age of four, and he later studied composition with Hans Koessler at the Royal Hungarian Academy of Music.

In 1897, Dohnányi won the Franz Liszt Prize, which launched his career as a composer. He went on to compose a wide range of works, including operas, symphonies, chamber music, and piano music. His most famous works include the Piano Concerto No. 2, the Serenade in C minor, and the Variations on a Theme of Paganini.

Dohnányi was also a gifted pianist and conductor. He toured extensively as a pianist, and he conducted many of the leading orchestras in Europe and the United States. He was also a professor at the Royal Hungarian Academy of Music, where he taught some of the most important composers of the 20th century, including Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály.

Dohnányi died in New York City in 1960. He was 82 years old.

Dohnányi's music is characterized by its beauty, lyricism, and technical virtuosity. He was a master of melody and harmony, and his music is still enjoyed by audiences around the world.