Conductor Iván Fischer

Iván Fischer

A preview of our concerts featuring the world-class Hungarian conductor Iván Fischer, the founder and music director of the Budapest Festival Orchestra.

Start watching now

About Iván Fischer

Iván Fischer, a conductor, composer, opera director, thinker, and educator, is widely regarded as one of the most visionary musicians of our time. With a strong foundation in the tradition of great musical polymaths, Fischer's focus is always on the music itself. He has introduced innovative concert formats and reformed the structure and working methods of symphony orchestras to serve the community in various combinations and musical styles.

As the Music Director of the Budapest Festival Orchestra, Fischer's tenure has witnessed tremendous success over the past three decades. Through international tours and acclaimed recordings for Philips Classics and Channel Classics, he has earned a global reputation as one of the most celebrated orchestral conductors, seamlessly blending tradition and innovation.

Fischer has established several festivals, including the Budapest Mahlerfest, the "Bridging Europe" festival, and the Vicenza Opera Festival. His efforts in fostering international cultural relations were recognized by the World Economic Forum, which honored him with the Crystal Award.

Having held significant positions such as principal conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, the Opéra National de Lyon, and the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Fischer is now Conductor Laureate of the latter. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra appointed him Honorary Guest Conductor in recognition of their longstanding collaboration. He is a frequent guest conductor with renowned ensembles such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

Fischer's musical journey began in Budapest, where he studied piano, violin, and cello before joining Hans Swarowsky's legendary conducting class in Vienna. He launched his international career after winning the Rupert Foundation conducting competition in London, following two years as assistant to Nikolaus Harnoncourt.

As a composer since 2004, Fischer primarily focuses on vocal music with instrumental ensembles. His opera, "The Red Heifer," garnered global attention, while the children's opera, "The Gruffalo," enjoyed numerous revivals in Berlin. His work "Eine Deutsch-Jiddische Kantate" has been widely performed and recorded in multiple countries.

Fischer's contributions to the music community extend beyond his artistic endeavors. He founded the Hungarian Mahler Society and serves as a patron of the British Kodály Academy. Recognitions for his achievements include the Gold Medal from the President of the Republic of Hungary, the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres honor from the French government, and the Hungarian Kossuth Prize. He also received prestigious awards such as the Royal Philharmonic Society Music Award and the Dutch Ovatie Prize. In 2013, he was named an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music in London. Notably, Fischer is an honorary citizen of Budapest, further highlighting his deep connection to the city.

Discover the performances of Iván Fischer

Discover the Symphony Family of Orchestras

Choose your subscription plan

Frequently Asked
Questions

What is Symphony.live?

Symphony.live is a video streaming platform committed to uniting the world’s orchestras. We believe in demystifying the wonderful world of classical music, striving to make it more approachable for diverse audiences through innovative viewing experiences. Our growing family of orchestras and their stories are at the forefront of everything we do. We curate a diverse array of concerts, playlists, in-depth explorations, and more. Our family of orchestras includes The Cleveland Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, and others. This is your chance to get closer than ever to the music you love!

How does the free trial work?

For a 7-day free trial, curious users can try Symphony.live for free. During these 7 days, you can enjoy all of our content in full - and with no strings attached. During the trial period, it’s up to you to decide whether you want to join us or not, so feel free to cancel at any time. There are two types of subscriptions we offer: monthly ($6,99/month) and annual ($49,99/year). 

Note: prices may vary per country.

How/where can I watch Symphony.live?

With Symphony.live, you can watch anywhere, anytime. As well as accessing online through Symphony.live, you can take your favorite concert experiences with you wherever you go, thanks to our mobile apps for iOS and Android.

You can also watch directly on your television via Roku, Android TV,  Google TV, Apple TV, Amazon FireTV, and on recent Samsung and LG TV sets.

Currently, we are available in the following locations:

(Europe:) Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom;

(Americas:) Brazil, Canada, Mexico, United States of America;

(Asia-Pacific:) Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea;

Note: more platforms and regions will be added soon.

What content does Symphony.live offer?

We would like to think there is something for everyone at Symphony.live. Whether you're a history buff looking to explore some of history's greatest musical minds, a connoisseur of the concert hall looking for your favorite performance, or simply looking to throw some relaxing classical music on in the background while you work, we’ve got you covered. From exclusive concert performances to deep-dive documentaries and our very own Close Up series, we ensure the classical music fan never runs out of content to watch. Plus, our hard-working team of experts regularly curates hand-picked playlists for every mood you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re in the mood for Vivaldi or Zimmer, you will never get bored; we are constantly revamping our collection with new music!

What quality does Symphony.live offer?

We understand the importance of experiencing classical music in mint condition. To help with your immersive experience, we always strive to provide you with the highest quality possible. We also have a selection of 5.1 digital surround sound available. Moreover, through our Wolfgang collaboration, select concert videos come with captions, enriching your viewing experience by providing a deeper understanding of the beautiful music on your screen.

How many devices can stream simultaneously?

You can stream Symphony.live on two devices simultaneously.

How can I cancel?

You can cancel at any time, directly from your profile page on the Symphony.live website.

How can I contact Symphony.live if I need account support and/or troubleshooting?

If you need support about your account, billing details, or encounter problems, please go to our help & support section or send a mail to support@symphony.live

How do I acces the Member Benefits?

To acces the Member Benefits you need to have an active subscription with Symphony.live. You can activate your account here.

Please follow these steps: 

  1. When you are a memner go to the login page on a browser on your desktop, laptop, tablet or phone: https://symphony.live/sign-in

  2. Login to Symphony.live with your account credentials

  3. The Member Benefits page is not available on our Apps so you need to head back to our member benefits page on the public website using this url: https://symphony.live/member-benefits

  4. Look for the desired deal, copy the coupon code and use the button to go to the landingpage

  5. From there you can activate the coupon code in the offered webshop or registration. 

If you have any question please contact our support team.