The
Budapest Strings began its existence when a group of advanced students at the
Franz Liszt Music Academy in Budapest formed a string septet. This then grew into a 16-member string orchestra that specialized in Hungarian repertoire. The
Budapest Strings was awarded first prize at the International Chamber Orchestra Competition in Belgrade in 1982. Under sponsorship from the New York Soros Foundation, the group began touring extensively and building its international reputation. It performs in its own concert series at the Liszt Music Academy in Budapest, and in its own summer festival in Fertod at
Haydn's former home, the Castle Eszterházy. The ensemble has performed with many soloists, such as
Peter Frankl,
Stefan Vladar,
Irena Grafenauer,
Frederic Chiu, and Mate Bereva. Since 2009 the orchestra has performed the Royal Concert Series in the Corinthia Hotel in Budapest.
The
Budapest Strings has recorded for
Hungaroton, Laserlight, Nuova Era, Delta Music, Naxos, and Capriccio. The ensemble is led by concertmaster
Béla Bánfalvi.