Biography

 

Born in 1957 in northern Hungary, guitarist/composer Ferenc Snétberger was the youngest son of a family of musicians. Early on his father, a guitar player also, became his role model. Snétberger studied classical music and jazz guitar. Today he is best known for his art of improvising and his crossing of stylistic borders. His music is inspired by the Roma tradition of his home country, Brazilian music and flamenco as well as classical guitar playing and jazz. He made numerous albums as a leader, co-leader and sideman and has toured all over Europe as well as Japan, Korea, India and the United States.
About - © Attila Kleb

© Attila Kleb

In 1995 he composed his Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra, "In Memory of My People", on the occasion the fiftieth year following the end of the holocaust. Inspired by melodies of the gypsy tradition, the concerto is a powerful statement against human suffering. It has been performed by the composer himself with chamber orchestras in Hungary, Italy and Germany and also at the New York UN headquarters (International Holocaust Memorial Day, 2007). 
 
Ferenc Snétberger performed Luciano Berios Sequenza XI (for solo guitar) as well as concertos with orchestra by Vivaldi, Rodrigo, and John McLaughlin. He also wrote music for film and theater. In 2002 Snétberger was appointed freeman of his birth town and two years later received the Hungarian Order of Merit. In 2005 he was awarded the Liszt Ferenc Prize in Budapest, 2013 the Prima Díj, 2014  the Kossuth Díj.
 
In 2004 Snétberger founded his new trio with legendary Norwegian bass player Arild Andersen and Norway-based Italian drummer/percussionist Paolo Vinaccia. With natural ease and on the highest level the three of them bring together choice compositions, technical skills, improvisational drive and musical fantasy. Released in fall 2005, their debut album "Nomad" was greeted with enthusiasm by critics and listeners. 
 
Snétbergers cooperation with Markus Stockhausen started in 1999 with "Landscapes", a duo suite recorded for Snétbergers album "For My People". In three movements the musicians immediately create a language of their own showing their talents in an amazing way. "They come along lightly and yet filled with melancholy - and they give the impression that one day they simply had to meet in order to make this music happen. You cant help but hope this cooperation will be continued soon," Ralf v.d. Kellen wrote in Intro magazine. Eight years later during which Snétberger and Stockhausen have further been stimulating each other artistically, their duo album "Streams" finally proves their development.
In 2011, Snétberger founded the Snétberger Musical Talent Center  (www.snetbergercenter.org), for the musical education of children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
 
2016 was  the release of Snétbergers last solo ablum In Concert and one year later the new Trio album Titok with Anders Jorman on bass and  drummer Joey Baron at the prestigious label ecm records.  This February was the release of his  last album Hallgató  at ECM New Series.
„A terrific collaboration between veteran Hungarian guitarist Ferenc Snétberger and András Keller’s string quartet that takes us through six centuries of music – from sweet settings of John Dowland’s compositions for lute to modernist classics by Shostakovich and Samuel Barber,alongside some darkly elegant pieces by Snétberger himself.“
John Lewis, Guardian
 
 
 
 
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SNÉTBERGER | FENYŐ | ORCHESTRA | MÜPA BUDAPEST | OCTOBER 24

SNÉTBERGER | FENYŐ  | ORCHESTRA | MÜPA BUDAPEST | OCTOBER 24

MÜPA BUDAPEST with Students | 2024 September 2

MÜPA BUDAPEST with Students  | 2024 September 2

Duo With Anders Jormin @ JazzFest Budapest | 2024 April 28

Duo With Anders Jormin @ JazzFest Budapest | 2024 April 28

SNÉTBERGER BRIDGES KONZERT MÜPA BUDAPEST 2021.10.21.

SNÉTBERGER BRIDGES KONZERT MÜPA BUDAPEST 2021.10.21.

GLB JAZZFESTIVAL ITALY | September 2016

GLB JAZZFESTIVAL ITALY | September 2016

BUDAPEST| ASSISI SANT FERENC CHURCH |2016-10-01

BUDAPEST| ASSISI SANT FERENC CHURCH |2016-10-01

TITOK ALBUM RELEASE TOUR OCT. 17

TITOK ALBUM RELEASE TOUR OCT. 17

FERENC SNÉTBERGER- TONY LAKATOS |  FRANKFURT AM MAIN | GETHSEMANEKIRCHE | NOVEMBER 17

FERENC SNÉTBERGER- TONY LAKATOS  |  FRANKFURT AM MAIN | GETHSEMANEKIRCHE | NOVEMBER 17

with CONCERT BUDAPEST & ANDRÁS KELLER AT PALACE OF ARTS IN BUDAPEST

with CONCERT BUDAPEST  & ANDRÁS KELLER  AT PALACE OF ARTS IN BUDAPEST

JTI TRIER JAZZ AWARD 2018

 JTI TRIER JAZZ AWARD 2018

Tehran | Festival SHOW OF HANDS | Septemeber 2018

Tehran | Festival SHOW OF HANDS  | Septemeber 2018

MOSCOW | TCHAIKOWSKY CONSERVATORY | OCTOBER 2018

MOSCOW | TCHAIKOWSKY CONSERVATORY  | OCTOBER 2018

Hamburg | Elbphilharmonie | Trio feat. Anders Jormin Joey baron | Febr. 19

Hamburg | Elbphilharmonie | Trio feat. Anders Jormin  Joey baron | Febr. 19

Budapest | Liszt Academy | Oct. 19 with Arild Andersen & Markus Stockhausen

Budapest | Liszt Academy | Oct. 19 with Arild Andersen & Markus Stockhausen

Zsidó Kulturális Fesztivál 2015

Zsidó Kulturális Fesztivál 2015

Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra I Budapest National Theater I 2015

Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra I  Budapest National Theater I 2015

Open Air Concert I Eszterházy CastleI I Snétberger Quartet & guests I 2015

Open Air Concert I Eszterházy CastleI I Snétberger Quartet & guests I 2015

Snétberger I Anders I Baron I zeneakadémia 2015

Snétberger I Anders I Baron I zeneakadémia 2015

Budapest I Liszt AcademyI Snétberger Quartet I Markus Stockhausen 2014

Budapest I Liszt AcademyI Snétberger Quartet I Markus Stockhausen  2014

Pécs I Kodály Központ I Quartet & Michel Godard I 2014

Pécs I Kodály Központ I Quartet & Michel Godard I 2014

Open Air I Budapest I 2014 I Concerto Budapest I Quartet I Michel Godard & students

Open Air I Budapest I 2014 I Concerto Budapest I Quartet I Michel Godard & students

Budapest I Liszt Academy I 2013

Budapest I Liszt Academy I 2013

with Richard Bona, Pécs, Kodaly Center, 2013

with Richard Bona, Pécs, Kodaly Center,  2013

Berlin, Philharmonie, KMS, with Nádor String Quartet, 2010

Berlin, Philharmonie, KMS, with Nádor String Quartet, 2010

WITH BOBBY MCFERRIN | VESZPRÉMFEST 2005

WITH BOBBY MCFERRIN  | VESZPRÉMFEST 2005

WITH FRIENDS | LISZT ACADEMY 2006

WITH FRIENDS | LISZT ACADEMY 2006

TRIO NOMAD | FEAT. ARILD ANDERSEN & PAOLO VINACCIA | VESZPREMFEST 2005

TRIO NOMAD | FEAT. ARILD ANDERSEN & PAOLO VINACCIA |  VESZPREMFEST 2005

Berlin 1988 © Gyula Traumberger

Berlin 1988 © Gyula Traumberger