Braving the summer (or nyári) heat, we sat down for a chat with the internationally recognized pianist, Károly Nyári.
You already won first prize on a national piano competition at the age of 13. What or who made you choose this path?
I come from a musical family, I have been imbued with music all my life, so this path was just a given to me. My father laid much emphasis on my music education and strictly demanded that I practice a lot.
What do you think of the jazz-piano scene in Hungary, especially in light of all your foreign experience?
I believe that music education is exceptionally good in Hungary, both in terms of classical and jazz piano teaching. We’re truly good at an international level as well.
Success came earlier in the Netherlands than in Hungary. Why is it so and how does it make you feel?
My solo career started in the Netherlands, where I had the chance to meet and perform with many international stars, which I am very proud of. I often got invited to radio and TV programs and thanks to my successes I even received Dutch citizenship.
What was your breakthrough in Hungary? How did you become known here?
After returning home, I became a frequent guest on live radio and TV shows as well as theater productions, music recordings and concerts. Thanks to these appearances and my two albums, the Hungarian audience had a chance to get to know me too.
Besides your solo career, you also founded a band, “The Summer Jazz-Trió” in 2005. The two other members of my band are Viktor Hárs (double bass) and János Sramkó (drum). Our trio have been performing at several national and international festivals to high appeal and been awarded high prizes.
Do you have an idol?
Of course, I do. First, I would like to mention Oscar Peterson for his ingenious and virtuoso performances, for his style- and era-defining work. But I could also mention Frank Sinatra, whom I commemorated with my Sinatra concert entitled “My Way,” where I performed his legendary hits.
Out of all the relics various international stars gave you, which one is the closest to your heart and what’s the story behind it?
One of my most cherished treasures is a microphone that Frank Sinatra himself gave to me at the opening ceremony of a luxury casino in Holland. I performed before him and he loved it. He sang into that microphone and after his show was over, he gave it to me and wished me luck with it.
What should we know about your upcoming new album and your concert show titled “Love Story” to be held in the fall?
The concert is going to be held at Béla Bartók National Concert Hall in Művészetek Palotája (Palace of Arts) on September 22nd, where I am going to be accompanied by MÁV Symphony Orchestra and Budapest Jazz Orchestra’s wind instrument section. One of the reasons this concert is going to be special is because for the first time in 30 years we’re going to perform the greatest hits of the legends of Hungarian pop music, like Zsuzsa Cserháti, Péter Máté, Pál Szécsi, as well as the most popular Hungarian movie soundtracks with symphonic big orchestra and big-band instrumentation. The album will feature 12 out of the 28 songs to be performed at the concert.