Miklós Lengyelfi, former music editor and director of Hungarian Television, died at the age of 94. His name has merged with the history of Hungarian musical life and television production.
Miklós Lengyelfi, former music editor and director of Hungarian Television, honorary citizen of Siófok, nurturer of the Imre Kálmán traditions, one of the most decisive figures in musical life, died on November 16. sonline.hu. The editor who died this weekend was 94 years old.
Miklós Lengyelfi was born in 1930 in Sopron, but his career was closely linked to Siófok and the Balaton area. He obtained a degree in museology and then in dramaturgy, but during his lifetime he also tried his hand at many fields. Among other things, he worked as a professional dancer, but also as an academic staff member and a dramaturg. At Hungarian Television, where he worked for 33 years, he produced more than 1,500 music programs and documentaries. Fly peacocka The rose opens is a Sunday music.
Among his operetta programs, the 100th anniversary of Imre Kálmán’s birth, the live program made in the international co-production of MTV-ZDF-ORF and broadcast to 12 countries (1982) and the Kálmán Imre gala programs recorded on the open-air stage in Siófok should be mentioned – the Siófok library reminds in a post shared on its social page.
After his retirement, he and his wife moved to Siófok. In the second half of the seventies, he was the artistic director of the South Balaton Cultural Center for a year and a half. In 1990, the city government established the Imre Kálmán Foundation to nurture the Kálmán traditions, and they wanted to develop Siófok into the capital of operetta. Miklós Lengyelfi was elected chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees. Through the cooperation of the city and Hungarian Television, several city events and several television productions were created.
Together with his wife, performer Judit Hortobágyi, he founded the Literary Stage of the South Balaton Cultural Center in 2002. Miklós Lengyelfi has been a member of the Siófok Creators’ Circle since its foundation, and since 2020 he has been the chairman of the Siófok Archives Committee.
He received his honorary citizen title in 2022.
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Guest 1: Dr. Anna Salamon, Musicologist and Professor at the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest
Host: Hello Dr. Salamon, it’s a pleasure to have you here today. I’d like to begin by discussing the impact of Miklós Lengyelfi on Hungarian musical life and television production. Can you share your thoughts on his contributions to these fields?
Dr. Salamon: Certainly, firstly, I think it’s important to acknowledge that Lengyelfi’s impact was quite significant. He was instrumental in the production of over 1,500 music programs and documentaries during his tenure at Hungarian Television, showcasing a vast array of genres and styles. This not only helped to promote Hungarian music but also introduced international audiences to lesser-known works. His dedication to the craft and willingness to experiment with new formats helped to shape the way that music was presented on television.
Host: Moving on to his work with operetta, specifically the Imre Kálmán traditions. What makes these traditions unique, and how did Lengyelfi contribute to their preservation and promotion?
Dr. Salamon: Imre Kálmán’s operettas were hugely popular in Hungary during the early 20th century, and his works continue to be cherished today. Lengyelfi recognized the importance of these works and sought to promote them through his television productions. His live program commemorating Kálmán’s 100th birthday and the gala programs recorded in Siófok were groundbreaking at the time and helped to reignite interest in the genre. Additionally, he played a critical role in establishing the Imre Kálmán Foundation, which aimed to preserve and nurture these traditions. This demonstrates his commitment to preserving Hungarian cultural heritage.
Host: Shifting gears slightly, Lengyelfi’s involvement in the cultural scene in Siófok was quite extensive. Can you tell us more about his work with the South Balaton Cultural Center and the Literary Stage?
Dr. Salamon: After retiring from Hungarian Television, Lengyelfi continued to be actively involved in the arts. His
