Frigyes Feszl was one of the most remarkable Hungarian Romanticist architects. His most famous works include the Vigadó Concert Hall located at the banks of the Danube, the Dreher Brewery or the inner apse of the Dohány Street Synagogue.Frigyes Feszl was born in 1821 in Pest, in a civilian family, as a son of a master stonemason. He studied in the Piarists’ High School in Pest, and from architect József Hild. Later he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, and he returned to Hungary in 1844. Between 1861 and 1865 he studied watercolor painting in Paris. One of his younger and elder brothers were also architects and his son, Frigyes, born in 1850 was a building entrepreneur. Feszl died in Budapest in 1884.
His Most Important Works
Frigyes Feszl was one of the most remarkable Hungarian Romanticist architects. His most renowned works include the Oszvald House located in the 5th district built in 1846-48, the new Servite Church in the 6th district, the Balassovith House in the 5th district built in 1848-49, the inner apse of the Dohány Street Synagogue built in 1858-59, the Dreher Brewery built in 1863 and the Vigadó Concert Hall.
The Vigadó Concert Hall
The first Vigadó, the Redoute was built by Mihály Pollack in 1833. Until its demolishment in 1849 a lot of famous composers had concerts here, such as Franz Liszt or Johann Strauss Sr. Feszl started to make the plans of the classical music, cultural and entertainment center’s current building located in the 5th district in 1858. It was built in romantic style, mixed with oriental elements. It was inaugurated with a festive ball in 1865. Its interior is decorated with murals of painters Károly Lotz and Mór Than and sculptures of Károly Alexy. In the 19th century besides the classical music concerts balls and elegant parties were held here. A lot of famous composers had concerts in the Vigadó such as Ferenc Erkel, Béla Bartók, Claude Debussy, Johannes Brahms or Camille Saint-Saëns. In the World War II the building was damaged; its reconstruction was started in the 1970s. The Concert Hall of the building has a 700-person auditorium and the Chamber Hall has a 220-person one.
Sources:
hu.wikipedia.orgPhoto: farm4.staticflickr.com
