Established in 1923 as the Budapest Municipal Orchestra, the orchestra was re-organized after the serious losses of the Second World War and in 1949 assumed its present name. Since 1952 the Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra (= HSSO) has been under the direction of its general music director János Ferencsik, its distinction officially recognised by the state in 1955. During the last thirty years the orchestra has played under conductors of the greatest international distinction, with 41 concerts under the baton of Otto Klemperer and appearances with other conductors and soloists of equally legendary fame. Considerable success has greeted the orchestra on its many foreign tours throughout Europe, to the USA, the Far East and Australia, and its work has met still wider acclaim from its many recordings, particularly for Hungaraton. |