HAVASI Concert Show - 2018 - The Palace Hall of Bucharest
- 6 years ago
Balázs Havasi (born 18 September 1975) is a Hungarian pianist and composer. As a contemporary composer he has launched four completely different musical projects, including compositions for a symphony orchestra, rock drums and piano. Havasi wrote a song for singer Tracey Thorn and gave a speech at the TED Global conference about his efforts in musical innovation. He is known for his fondness of Asian culture and martial arts, which he practiced for years. Havasi’s works became known to millions within a short time.
Havasi first played the piano at the age of 4. In 1996, at the age of 21, he was already a teacher at Weiner Leó Conservatory. He then went on to study at Franz Liszt Academy of Music, one of the most prestigious musical universities in the world. His professors included then rector Sándor Falvai and Jenő Jandó, a pianist who contributed to more than 200 recordings of classical music. During his years at the Academy of Music, Havasi won first prize at a piano competition of Yamaha Foundation of Europe.
Author’s albums for solo piano (2005-2008)
Between 2005 and 2008 Havasi published four solo piano albums in a row (Piano, Seven, Infinity and RED), each produced as a composer. The musical themes of the four records prepared the grounds for an independent, novel musical world. His own works clearly reflect his nearly 25 years of studies in classical music, while showing signs of present-day soundtrack, repetitive and new age effects. This new musical style brought him an unexpected overnight success and started his international career.
First international successes – The Unbending Trees
Havasi founded the band The Unbending Trees with singer-lyricist Kristóf Hajós in 2006. With English lyrics written and sung by Hajós, the sophisticated solo piano pieces of Havasi have resulted in a special musical world where Central European sounds merge with a little melancholy, perhaps akin to the style of Leonard Cohen, Scott Walker or Antony and the Johnsons. The band was offered its first record contract by British record publisher and producer Ben Watt, and soon released its first album called Chemically Happy (Is The New Sad).
The Unbending Trees made its debut in London in 2007. Their four-song EP called “The First Day” gained recognition by Jim Gellatly (XFM Scotland), Rob Da Bank (BBC Radio 1), Molloy Woodcraft (The Observer). The LP which appeared soon afterwards received positive reviews from almost all national dailies in the UK. At the invitation of BBC6, the band recorded a radio session as the second Hungarian performer after Márta Sebestyén. Later, their song “You Are A Lover” was reworked by British singer Tracey Thorn and even came to be a track on the world famous performer’s album called Love and Its Opposite. This immediately made Havasi a composer of a success album released all over the world, which has so far sold hundreds of thousands of copies.
Their second album titled 'Meteor' is released 15 October 2013.
Havasi first played the piano at the age of 4. In 1996, at the age of 21, he was already a teacher at Weiner Leó Conservatory. He then went on to study at Franz Liszt Academy of Music, one of the most prestigious musical universities in the world. His professors included then rector Sándor Falvai and Jenő Jandó, a pianist who contributed to more than 200 recordings of classical music. During his years at the Academy of Music, Havasi won first prize at a piano competition of Yamaha Foundation of Europe.
Author’s albums for solo piano (2005-2008)
Between 2005 and 2008 Havasi published four solo piano albums in a row (Piano, Seven, Infinity and RED), each produced as a composer. The musical themes of the four records prepared the grounds for an independent, novel musical world. His own works clearly reflect his nearly 25 years of studies in classical music, while showing signs of present-day soundtrack, repetitive and new age effects. This new musical style brought him an unexpected overnight success and started his international career.
First international successes – The Unbending Trees
Havasi founded the band The Unbending Trees with singer-lyricist Kristóf Hajós in 2006. With English lyrics written and sung by Hajós, the sophisticated solo piano pieces of Havasi have resulted in a special musical world where Central European sounds merge with a little melancholy, perhaps akin to the style of Leonard Cohen, Scott Walker or Antony and the Johnsons. The band was offered its first record contract by British record publisher and producer Ben Watt, and soon released its first album called Chemically Happy (Is The New Sad).
The Unbending Trees made its debut in London in 2007. Their four-song EP called “The First Day” gained recognition by Jim Gellatly (XFM Scotland), Rob Da Bank (BBC Radio 1), Molloy Woodcraft (The Observer). The LP which appeared soon afterwards received positive reviews from almost all national dailies in the UK. At the invitation of BBC6, the band recorded a radio session as the second Hungarian performer after Márta Sebestyén. Later, their song “You Are A Lover” was reworked by British singer Tracey Thorn and even came to be a track on the world famous performer’s album called Love and Its Opposite. This immediately made Havasi a composer of a success album released all over the world, which has so far sold hundreds of thousands of copies.
Their second album titled 'Meteor' is released 15 October 2013.