Hungarian Heritage Review, 1990 (19. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1990-01-01 / 1. szám
Under the patronage of Lieutenant General and Mrs. John R. McGiffert, support for the exhibit, Grand Opening, and Public Discussion was provided by the San Antonio Hungarian Association, Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation, Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company, Hungarian Foundation of Texas, Franz Liszt Foundation of the Americas, and Mr. Michael J. Balint. For “HHR SNOW-BIRDS” planning to head south this winter for some fun-in-the-sun, the address of the Institute of Texan Cultures is 801 South Bowie Street (P.O. Box 1226), San Antonio, Texas 78294; and the address of the San Antonio Hungarian Association is P.O. Box 790832, San Antonio, Texas 78279-0832. Pay both a visit and enjoy! NEW YORK, NEW YORK - Eugene Fodor, the brilliant American-Hungarian violinist who took the music world by storm back in 1974, and whose story was reported in an earlier issue of HHR, is now riding the comeback trail. Fodor, who won the 1974 Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow - the first American since Van Cliburn to win the coveted award - had an initial career that carried him to the heights. His first few years of concertizing were one continuous spiral of fame, adulation, whirlwind engagements and television appearances. Having won the award at the age of 24, Fodor apparently was not prepared to handle what came later. In addition, critics began to belittle his efforts; they claimed that he played only “crowd-pleasers” and that he lacked “musical maturity.” All this began to take its toll on the young musician, and as his career began to slide, he turned to another source of stimulation. And in July of this year Fodor again hit headlines, this time as victim of a “drug bust.” Fodor’s own words about the matter are these: “I got into cocaine because I have the disease of addiction ...” Actually, Fodor is grateful that he was “busted.” This has lead to his rehabilitation and to his renewed dedication to his music. He is now going back on the concert circuit. He has performed at Peekskill, New York, as well as Sioux City, Iowa. Some of these performances were actually scheduled before Fodor’s bout with the law, and he is pleased that there have been no cancellations. “In addition,” says Fodor, “I’ve gotten some additional engagements because people want to hear the new me.” And it is this “new me” who is returning to the public eye, with a new maturity and a new vision about music, the violin, and his own life. HHR certainly extends its best wishes and hopes for a successful “new” career for this splendid young musician. TORONTO, CANADA - Is there any interest in and a market for the published works of Canadian authors in Hungary? Evidently there is, because Kati Rékai, the well-known Hungarian writer of books for children, was recently appointed by the Writers’ Union of Canada to head up a Committee to help show-case books by Canadian authors in Hungary. Having already contacted Hungarian publishers, who have expressed their interest in publishing more works by Canadian writers, and having already been in communication with university professors in Budapest, Debrecen, Szeged, and Pecs, who teach Canadian literature, she is now busy preparing for an exhibition in Budapest. “I am organizing a promotional exhibition of Canadian books in English to be held next month (December) in Budapest at the Forum Hotel”, Kati Rékai said. “Each book for sale will have a questionnaire enclosed to solicit the opinions of the reader. Those books which receive the best reviews will have the possibility of being translated and published in Hungary.” The books to be exhibited will be provided by the Canadian publishing houses of McClelland & Stewart; Lester & Orpen; Dennys; Key Porter; Doubleday; Stoddart; Owl; Simon & Pierre; Macmillan; and others. The exhibition will be ceremoniously opened by the Canadian Ambassador to Hungary, the Honorable Derek Fraser, and the Cultural Attache of the Canadian Embassy in Budapest, Mr. Gangi.- continued next page JANUARY 1990 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW 5
