András Kürthy is a Hungarian opera stage director.
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András Kürthy graduated from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest. He wrote his M. A. thesis on the history of the Ricordi Publishing House and its role in the history of Italian music in the 19th century. He went on studying music, musicology and theatrical art in Budapest, Rome and Milan. He did research on Verdi's operatic oeuvre. In 1987/88 he won his second scholarship as stage director to study in Italy at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, which had a decisive impact on his career. He worked with stage directors Michael Bogdanov, Michael Hampe, Roberto De Simone and Luca Ronconi and with composer Karlheinz Stockhausen on productions of Teatro alla Scala and Teatro Romolo Valli (Reggio Emilia).
From 1985 to 1992 he was member of the Hungarian State Opera House, Budapest, first as assistant stage director, later as chief dramaturg, then secretary general and finally as programme director.
Between 1991 and 2001 he worked as a permanent guest director at the Hungarian State Opera of Cluj (Romania). There he realised a most successful series of stagings: Simon Boccanegra, Macbeth and Nabucco by Verdi, the world premiere of a Hungarian rock opera as well as several gala evenings and guest performances. For his activities there he was awarded the Ruzitska József Prize in 2001.
From 1991 till 2003 he worked with the Rudas Theatrical Organization on Luciano Pavarotti's large concerts and on The Three Tenors (Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras) productions. As stage director, he took part in a Turandot production in Beijing and held master classes in China several times.
In 1995 he started his own production (Opera Viva) in Budapest, which launched summer festivals and set up an opera studio for young artists to acquire and practice stage skills.
András Kürthy has worked on the juries of some of the most acclaimed singing competitions all over the world. He is member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts of Salzburg. He is also active in the field of photographic art. He has had several photo exhibitions and published an album.