For the gypsy, there exists only one rule: "Thereare no rules". And if he happens to be a Hungarian gypsy with sevengenerations of legendary musicians in his family, one can expect onlythe unexpected.
In 1965, Roby Lakatos was born as a directdescendant into the legendary Hungarian gypsy violin dynasty of JanosBihari (1764 - 1827). The family had a major influence on thedevelopment of violin music since the 18th century. Bihari was highlyrespected at the Royal Court in Vienna. His friends Liszt andBeethoven called him in admiration "King of the Gypsy Violinists" and"Hungarian Orpheus". Roby Lakatos is his direct descendant in the 7thgeneration.
He was initiated into the secrets of the gypsymusic at the young age of five, by Tony and Sandor Lakatos. He gavehis first public concert as child progeny at the age of nine. Robyhas grown up in the musical atmosphere of his family, but alsostudied classical violin at the Bela Bartok Conservatory in Budapest,where he received the first prize in 1984.
As a musician of unusual musical scope - ascomposer, classical violinist and gypsy violinist, Roby Lakatos is athome in the Hungarian folklore as well as in classical music andjazz. This universality enables him to perform with musicians ofvarious styles. To those who have played with him belong StepaneGrappelli, Giora Feidman, Herbie Hancock, Vadim Repin and RandyBrecker. A great admirer of his violin play is Sir Yehudi Menuhin,who during his stay in Brussels frequently used to visit the clubwhere Roby Lakatos played since 1986.
The combination of the nomadic free spirit andclassical violin education turns the young Lakatos into a go-betweenbetween the musical styles. Just as the homeless, almost always andeverywhere disparaged and persecuted Romany people had to adjust timeand again to the new environments and circumstances, so also theirmusic kept absorbing new elements -- like an oak barrel used forageing whiskey, which gives it its special and uniqueflavor.
When Lakatos mixes the so-called "classical music"with the magic of the Hungarian-gypsy vitality, it does not turn intoa disrespectful attitude toward the higher cultural heritage, but itmore reflects the deep tradition rooted in the cultural heritage ofthe Gypsy people and offers new, refreshing pleasures to the listenerand music lover. And just as Liszt, Brahms and others used theHungarian overtones in their compositions, so now the public profitsfrom the confrontation of these classics with the gypsy roots. Thisenlivens all those men and women in whose veins still pulses at leasta little bit of the blood of the wandering spirit.
Since 1996, numerous concert engagementsthroughout Europe left Roby Lakatos no time to play in the old clubin Brussels. Instead, sold out performances have taken place inFrance, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Hungary, as well as Jordanand Marocco. The Deutsche Gramophon record company signed anexclusive contract with him. He regularly performs on Hungarian andBelgian TV programs, as well as on German radio.
His scheduled performances for 1998 include, amongothers: the Carnegie Hall (on September 5th) in New York, RadioFrance in Paris, Santa Cecilia in Rome, the Concert Hall inAmsterdam, and the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London.