Andor Bóni

Double Bass

I decided to learn to play the double bass when, at the age of 12, I stood next to my father's instrument and plucked it. Of course, he had been telling me to start playing for a long time, but up to that moment, I hadn't at all cared.

I was enrolled in the Antal Molnár Music School, where I soon garnered success. At first, I was captured by the pleasures of playing together, then, within a few months – when we performed in Hamburg as part of an exchange programme – I got the taste of being a musician with friendships and tours. It was then a straight road leading me to the conservatory, where it was already clear that I would seek a career in music. From my fourth year in the conservatory, I also pursued musical studies in Vienna, where I lived for almost three and a half years. When I decided to come home, I became Zsolt Fejérvári's student at the Liszt Academy. Almost at the same time, I was admitted to the Dohnányi Orchestra in Budafok, and I started to help out with the Budapest Festival Orchestra on a permanent basis.

I had only performed with symphony orchestras until Bence Horváth invited me to play in the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra. At first, it was odd that there was no conductor, but then, I realised that if I watched Bence closely (and, of course, the others), there could be no big trouble. The possibility that one day I might get a job here didn't even occur to me, not least because there had been only a single bass player in the ensemble for decades. When I was asked if I could join for the presence of the four cellists required another double bass player, I was thrilled to accept because I had always been impressed by the quality of the orchestra, be it their setup or their playing. The repertoire, however, is entirely different from what I have been playing, so now I have a lot to learn. In my spare time, I also practise at home, which at the moment, involves minor difficulties, because my son is only one year old. My wife is also a musician– she plays and teaches the cimbalom – so she understands and supports me, for which I am extremely grateful. 

I definitely imagine our future in Hungary! I am happy with my life because, besides my loving family, I can work in the field that I love: I make music – what's more, in a world-famous ensemble of exceptionally high quality.

If I was told today that I was to retire from here, I'd embrace this possibility because everything is perfect right now.

(Notes by Sarolta Gálfi / www.azember.hu)