Any search for a world-class violin virtuoso will find Roby Lakatos in the top ranks. He has performed successfully on every famous stage including New York’s Carnegie Hall, London’s Royal Albert Hall, Tokyo’s Santory Hall, and the Sydney Opera House. Yehudi Menuhin sang Roby Lakatos’ highest praises, counting his Hungarian Gypsy gift of expressiveness among the traits that make him stand out among violinists. Roby’s ancestor in the seventh generation was Janos Bihari, who himself was admired by Beethoven. And the ecstatic Alla Zingarese helped spark the gypsy passion of the 19th century with the many Hungarian Rhapsodies, Dances, and Czardas.

Of course, classical music is also an important part of the contemporary repertoire. Monti’s Czardas and Brahms’ Hungarian Dances are also part of Roby Lakatos’ repertoire. But Lakatos is also accompanied by a contemporary Gypsy band made up of a second violinist, a pianist, a cimbalom player, a contra-bassist and an electric bass guitarist. The five members are young musicians in their mid-twenties and the very best in their fields. Jeno Lisztes is reputed to be the best cimbalom virtuoso there is. Adding to Roby Lakatos’ impressive career and musicianship is the fact that he has also appeared with classical violinists such as Vadim Repin and Maxim Vengerov, and in mid-July 2013, with Nigel Kennedy as well.

This musician’s impressive musicality is best exhibited on his newest CD, La Passion, which was recorded in front of a live audience of 5,000 people in 2012 at the Sydney Opera House.

Review

"But when Roby Lakatos spun out his first cadenza, the earth stood still … Lakatos left us with birdsong in our ears"

- The Independent