It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of two iconic figures in the world of classical music: harpsichordist Anneke Uittenbosch and violinist István Párkányi. Both artists made enormous contributions to the musical community, not only as performers but also as educators. Each was affiliated with the Conservatorium of Amsterdam as a principal subject teacher for over 20 years. Their legacy will continue to live on through the many students they mentored, as well as through their impressive discographies.

Anneke Uittenbosch

Anneke Uittenbosch, who passed away at the age of 93, was one of the Netherlands' most influential harpsichordists. She began her musical journey with piano lessons from her father and later became the first pupil of Gustav Leonhardt at the Conservatorium of Amsterdam. As a soloist, Uittenbosch recorded numerous works for labels such as EMI, Etcetera, and Globe, collaborating with big names like Gustav Leonhardt, Elly Ameling, Ton Koopman, and Nikolaus Harnoncourt. She taught at the Conservatorium of Amsterdam, and prior to that, at the Conservatorium of Maastricht.

Not just a gifted soloist, Uittenbosch was also an enthusiastic accompanist and chamber musician. She regularly performed and recorded with the trio formation L'Estro Armonico Amsterdam and collaborated with singers such as Elly Ameling in various projects. She leaves behind a rich legacy that will continue to inspire.

István Párkányi

IstvánPárkányi was born in 1945 near Leipzig in a Hungarian family and grew up in Budapest. He began playing the violin when he was seven years old. He studied at the Béla Bartók Conservatoire in Budapest, where he won first prize in the national music competition. In 1970, he continued his studies with Max Rostal in Cologne.

Párkányi was the lead violinist for the orchestra of the Beethovenhalle in Bonn, the Kölner Kammerorchester, and from 1975, the Radio Kamerorkest in the Netherlands. In 1976, he founded the Orlando Quartet with Heinz Oberdorfer, Ferdinand Erblich, and Stefan Metz. The quartet, closely collaborating with Sándor Végh, developed into an internationally renowned string quartet. It won first prize at the international Carlo Jachino competition in Rome and the international competition of the European Broadcasting Union in Helsinki, in addition to receiving the Grand Prix du Disque twice for the Philips recordings made by the quartet.

In 1984, Párkányi left the quartet to become the lead violinist of het Nederlands Kamerorkest in Amsterdam. At the same time, he performed as a soloist and played as the first violin in the Párkányi Quartet, which he had founded with two members of the disbanded Orlando Quartet, Heinz Oberdorfer and Ferdinand Erblich, along with cellist Michael Müller.

Párkányi passed away on 5 September 2023 at the age of 78.