Violist and chamber musician András Rudolf is a founding member of Budapest’s Haydn String Quartet and the Hungarian String Trio.
He has been a member of the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra since 1976, when it was known as the Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra. A winner of the
Bartók–Pásztory Award, he also received the Hungarian Gold Cross of Merit on 15 March 2022.
He commenced his instrumental studies in Budapest under József Szelényi, who remained a key influence on him both professionally and personally throughout his career. After graduating from the Bartók Conservatory, he earned his degree at the Liszt Academy after studying under László Bársony. His chamber music teachers, Frigyes Sándor, Zoltán Tóth, András Mihály and especially Vilmos Tátrai, with whom he often played in the Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra, the Hungarian Chamber Orchestra and once in the famous Tátrai String Quartet, were likewise important mentors. In 1976, even before completing his studies at the Liszt Academy, he gained a position with the Hungarian State Orchestra, where he has served as principal violist since 1986. Apart from his orchestral work, he also regularly played in various chamber orchestras, such as the Hungarian Chamber Orchestra, the Budapest Chamber Orchestra, the Kammerorchester D’all Arco (Hamburg), the Orchestra da camera di Roma e del Lazio and the Solistes Européens Luxembourg. He is a founder of the Haydn String Quartet in Budapest, making several CD recordings with them. He is likewise a founder of the Hungarian String Trio. As a soloist, he has made several radio, television and CD recordings, the latter with a viola d’amore. He considers himself a lucky person because he gets to do the job he likes better than any other, and with the same orchestra for 50 years.
