The unforgettable Hungarian TV personality was telling stories in a group of friends until MTV invited him to a show – but even then Imre Antal thought he should just play music. How did you start your career as a successful pianist who later became a TV personality?
Imre Antal was born on July 30, 1935 in Hodmezővásárhely, but later the family moved to Budapest. After the Erkel Ferenc Academy of Music, he continued his studies at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, graduating with honors in 1959. He became a soloist of the National Orchestra, traveled halfway around the world during his concert tours, and left seven international competitions with valuable prizes. He was twice awarded the VIT Prize, the second prize at the Busoni competition in Bolzano, and the first prize at the Liszt competition in Budapest in 1966. During his travels, he almost died once in Brazil, he told about it himself, you can read the story here.
Television writer and editor Joseph Beckis noticed him at the Young Artists Club. Imre Antal appeared in front of the camera for the first time in 1965, and since he showed no talent during live broadcasts, he was entrusted with Köszöntő and then Halló púyok! Hey girls! He leads a popular youth program at the time. But how exactly did this happen?
“In the company of my friends, I often tell stories of my adventures abroad, and always make my audience laugh. Emery, I’ve been watching you for a long time, I’ve been watching you for a long time, Joseph Beckis, the playwright of the youth department of television, once said, You are excellent at keeping your audience engaged. Come on.” And host a show on TV. Let’s try it and see if it works!”
He thought he was joking, and when he almost forgot about the show, he received a letter in the mail telling him to go on TV and discuss the program “Közöntő”. “I thought I was going to have to play the piano, because it had already happened many times before. In fact, I also had to play the piano. I would like to stress the word ‘also’, because to my utter surprise, they squeezed 3-4 printed sheets into my hand.” Learn this text, and it will be broadcast the day after tomorrow, they said.
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