Liszt Symphony Orchestra Sopron

Founded: 1829

Art Director: Péter Kóczán
Conductor in charge: Péter Oberfrank

Sopron's Symphony Orchestra has been in operation since 1829 and has borne the name of Franz Liszt, born in the former Sopron county, since 1929. It has been a key player in the cultural life of the region and has represented Hungary abroad on numerous occasions, most recently at the 2019 Bayreuth Liszt Days.

One of the oldest orchestras in Hungary, its primary goal is to promote classical music among local audiences and to support the musical education of young people in the region. The majority of the musicians in the ensemble are music teachers and instrumental performers with higher musical education, but the orchestra also includes young music lovers and music students with appropriate instrumental skills.

The orchestra of the Sopron Music Society took the name of the Liszt Symphony Orchestra Sopron on the occasion of its 1929 anniversary. Bartók and Dohnányi were present at the centenary celebrations, and Kodály's Psalmus Hungaricus was performed. After the Second World War, Sopron's musical life was also integrated into the national music scene through the National Philharmonic Orchestra: the most important artists of the time regularly performed at the city's music festivals and concerts for hire, accompanied by the Liszt Symphony Orchestra of Sopron.