Péter Kővári
The conductor, organist and church musician, whose art blends liturgy, historical authenticity and the spiritual message of music into a unified whole.
professional achievements
Fischer Annie-ösztöndíj
2013
Kodály Zoltán alkotói ösztöndíj
2011
Tokyo Foundation ösztöndíja
2010
Bécsi Zeneművészeti Egyetem ösztöndíja
2009
beginnings
Péter Kővári’s musical philosophy is shaped both by the musical legacy articulated by Zoltán Kodály and by the centuries-old Viennese tradition of church music. At the heart of his artistic philosophy lies the unity of historical authenticity, musical research and emotional expression: as a performer, he strives to present musical works in a manner that is true to the period, yet at the same time vibrant and personal.
He studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where he graduated with degrees in church music, conducting, solo singing and organ performance. Since 2005, he has been a member of the Grammy Award-winning Arnold Schoenberg Chor, and as a member of the ensemble he has worked with conductors such as Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Claudio Abbado, Pierre Boulez, Ádám Fischer and Bernard Haitink.
He is an active performer as an organist, choirmaster, continuo player and countertenor. His work focuses on the historical performance practice of church music and its liturgical and spiritual contexts.
St. Stephen's Basilica
For Péter Kővári, St Stephen’s Basilica is, above all, a sacred space. It is a place where music can be heard in its original purpose – in the service of the liturgy – and where a concert is not merely a performance, but an encounter with the deeper meaning of music.
He is convinced that the fullest meaning of church music is revealed when the works are performed in the setting for which they were composed. From the Gregorian tradition to oratorios, and from choral literature to organ music, all are part of the same spiritual heritage spanning centuries, for which the church is one of the most fitting homes.
The restored Angster organ continues to honour this legacy. Its sound and artistic possibilities provide a fitting setting for the most significant works of the liturgical and concert repertoire to be performed in all their splendour within the Basilica.
At the Stephanus International Organ Festival
Péter Kővári’s concert brings together historical authenticity, liturgical tradition and the timeless beauty of organ music. In his performance, the music is not merely played, but returns to its original setting: the sacred space that has inspired its composers and performers for centuries.
For the Stephanus International Organ Festival, it is a meeting point where the shared roots of concert music and liturgy come together once more, and where the restored basilica organ fittingly conveys the centuries-old heritage of Western church music.