Pál Lukács

Who is Pál Lukács?

Pál Lukács was a Hungarian viola virtuoso, concert and recording artist, and music educator.

Lukács studied voice, and also violin with Imre Waldbauer at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. He switched to viola in 1935 after hearing a viola performance by Lionel Tertis accompanied by pianist Clifford Curzon. In 1936 he became a member of the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra. Lukács joined the faculty of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in 1946 as a music teacher, and the following year was appointed the first Professor of Viola by the Academy, a position he held until 1981. In 1975, he was appointed head of the voice faculty.

From 1947 until 1976 Lukács performed as viola soloist throughout Europe. He was a prize winner at the 1948 Geneva International Music Competition.

Lukács was the recipient of many awards including the Artist of Merit of the Republic of Hungary Award in 1952, Kossuth Prize in 1965 and the Outstanding Artist Award of the Republic of Hungary in 1971.

In 1959, Lukács published an important pedagogical work for viola: Exercises in Change of Position for Viola, Advanced Grade. He also prepared and edited many viola works for publication, notably those by László Weiner.