Julius Hegyi (February 2, 1923 – January 1, 2007) was an American conductor and violinist.
He spent his lifetime building orchestras, founding chamber music groups and instilling a passion for music in young and old alike. His belief in contemporary music, especially American music, as conductor, violinist and mentor, brought compelling listening experiences to his audiences. Hegyi was well known for his expert grasp of European repertoire, routinely giving commanding performances of Beethoven and Brahms, for example.
Background
Hegyi was an active proponent of American music, with concerts devoted to world premieres of many composers. He performed works by contemporary European and Chinese composers, as well.
Violinist: Berkshire String Quartet; New York Civic Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski conductor; the New York Philharmonic; RCA Victor Symphony; Radio City Music Hall Symphony; the New York City Center Ballet Orchestra; Little Symphony Orchestra, NYC; Contemporary Music Society, Solomon Guggenheim Museum, NYC
Resident Conductor, Florida Philharmonic, 1991 to 1992
Married from 1944 - 1948 to his first wife, Elaine Shapiro. They had one child, Lee Silver born 1945, died 2001.
Married from 1949 - 1950 to his second wife, Martha Jane Bucy of Lubbock, Texas, and they were divorced in 1950. There were no children from this union.
Married from 1953 - 1992 to his third wife, Charlotte Barrier of Lubbock, Texas, and lived in Chattanooga, TN and Williamstown, MA. They had one child, Lisa Hegyi Raymond born in 1962.
Married from 1994 - 2007 to his fourth wife, Nancy King Hegyi.
Survived by widow, Nancy Hegyi, of Fountain Hills, Arizona, sister Louise Larson, daughter Lisa Hegyi Raymond, and grandchildren.
Predeceased by son, Lee Silver, of Plainfield, VT
Performances
Hegyi, in his role as conductor/violinist, performed many world premieres, such as:
I remember being transported, when I first heard Julius Hegyi conduct the Albany Symphony Orchestra. I could not believe I was hearing musical interpretation that would make any orchestra proud. In subsequent performances with Julius and the ASO, I learned that this was not a fluke, but a testimony to the gifts and accomplishments of one of the greatest musicians it has been my honor to work with. Julius was a master of all elements of music—technical (as conductor or superb violinist), structural, emotional, spiritual. I will never forget him.
You have always been one of the unsung heroes of the musical world; an honest forthright sterling musician/conductor, peerless in the profession. You were one of the rarities unafraid to give lesser known soloists a hearing, seriously devoted to your art; considerate and open with his orchestra members and interested in keeping the highest standards with whom you worked.
Please know that you are remembered and appreciated by many.
— Sidney Harth, violinist, conductor
Julius Hegyi was a true musician and a warm, kind colleague. He was a wonderful person to talk about music with, and he always put the music first. He was renowned for his work as an innovator in contemporary music.
— James Judd, Music Director, New Zealand Philharmonic Orchestra
Reviews
John Rockwell wrote in the New York Times "...it can be flatly said that the best performance (and the most unusually interesting piece, too) was Mr. Hegyi's account of Barber's one-movement symphony, which had its premiere in 1936, was revised in 1944 and championed by Artur Rodzinski and Bruno Walter. The score blends considerable passion with Barber's wonderfully characteristic arching lyricism. Mr. Hegyi, who has a good deal of experience with 20th-century American music, given the Albany Symphony's venturesome commitment to that cause, played it with a sure technical command that never got in the way of expressivity."[7]
