Gábor Takács-Nagy – Biography June 2011

Gabor Takács-Nagy (born 17 April 1956) began studying the violin at the age 8. He attended the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, where he won the JenÅ‘ Hubay prize. At the Academy his tutors included Ferenc Rados, András Mihály, and György Kurtág.

In 1975, Takács-Nagy, Károly Schranz, Gabor Ormai and András Fejér founded the Takács Quartet.  The quartet recorded for the Hungaroton and Decca labels. Takács-Nagy left the ensemble in 1992, after developing hand stress, which forced him to stop playing the violin. After successful treatment, resumed playing the violin. In 1996, Gabor founded the Takács Piano Trio with Dénes Várjon (piano) and Péter Szabo (cello). He also became concertmaster of the Budapest Festival Orchestra. In 1997, he joined the faculty of the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève as Professor of String Quartet.

In 1998, he established the Mikrokosmos String Quartet with Zoltán Tuska (second violin), Sándor Papp (viola) and Miklós Perényi (cello).

Takács-Nagy also began to develop an interest in conducting. In 2005, he formed the string orchestra Camerata Bellerive, as a resident ensemble at the Festival de Bellerive in Geneva, where he has served as co-artistic director. In 2007, he became Music Director of the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra, as well as principal guest conductor of the Hungarian State Symphony and of the MÁV Symphony Orchestra. In September 2010, Gabor became chief conductor and artistic director of the MÁV Symphony Orchestra. In March 2010, Manchester Camerata announced the appointment of Takács-Nagy as our next Music Director, effective with the 2011-2012 season.

In May 2011, Gabor Takács-Nagy was named Principal Guest Conductor of the Budapest Festival Orchestra. Gábor’s appointment with the Budapest Festival Orchestra will commence in the 2012/13 season.

Takács-Nagy holds the International Chair in Chamber Music at the Royal Northern College of Music.

His wife Lesley comes from Burnley in Lancashire. He has two daughters.