Débora Halász

Pianist and harpsichordist Débora Halász has explored an extensive range of repertoire spanning Baroque to contemporary works, encompassing South American, Eastern European, and Russian traditions. She frequently appears alongside her husband, guitarist Franz Halász, in their Duo Halász partnership.

Born around 1965 in São Paulo, Brazil, she carries Hungarian ancestry through her family and adopted Halász as her married surname. Piano lessons began at age six, and by ten she secured a competition victory that gained her entry as the youngest pupil at the Magdalena Tagliaferro Academy. Further instruction came from Beatriz Balzi and Myrian Dauelsberg, leading to a debut at fifteen with the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra. She also completed a law degree at São Paulo University. Recognition as best soloist of the year from the Associação Paulista de Críticos de Arte arrived at nineteen after her performance of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30, steering her toward a full concert career. A Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) scholarship brought her to Germany in 1989 for studies at the Musikhochschule Köln, where she has resided ever since. Her marriage to Franz Halász took place in 1991, and the couple established Duo Halász two years later.

As a solo performer she has appeared at prominent festivals and concert series across Europe and South America. In later years she added the harpsichord, using a copy of a 1734 Haas workshop instrument commissioned for her, and she has both performed and recorded the works of harpsichord composer Carlos Seixas.

Her recording activity on the BIS and Naxos labels stands out, notably a complete cycle of Heitor Villa-Lobos piano music issued by BIS. The 2015 release Alma Brasileira earned a Latin Grammy award that same year. In 2020 the Duo Halász presented Beethoven's music for guitar and piano on Naxos. Halász holds teaching positions at the Hochschule für Musik Nürnberg and the Hochschule für Musik und Theater, Munich.