Have a good ear for the message

We proudly announce that also in Hungary two internationally and nationally respected ambassadors agreed to work together with Hear the World. The Liszt Ferenc Chamber Orchestra's director, violinist János Rolla and the guitarist Zorán were glad to share their view about good hearing.

The Liszt Ferenc Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1963 so it will celebrate its 45 anniversary in 2008. It belongs to the top performers not only in Hungary but on international level, too. During the past decades they played in Carnegie Hall, Tokyo's Suntory Hall, in the Sydney Opera House and in Amsterdam's Concertgebouw and they took part in the music festivals of Salzburg, Ascona, Helsinki, Monbtreux, Santander etc. Among the world leading performers the Liszt Ferenc Chamber Orchestra gave concerts with Maurice André, Martha Argerich, David Ojsztrach, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Mstjslav Rostropovich, András Schiff. Their founder and first director was Frigyes Sándor, and since his death in 1979 the orchestra has been working under the command of János Rolla.

"For a musician the hearing is everything. There are blind musicians but it is hardly to find a deaf one. Of course we know of Beethoven's and Smetana's destiny but previously they also had a healthy hearing and being deaf they still had their inside hearing.

For me it is quite simple: the music generates the most deep sensual waves so to say from the ear to the heart. This should be the proper definition for the music.I duly know that many people are affected by the hearing loss – even myself have a slight problem with the hearing. Working in an orchestra for decades makes your ears pressed: sitting just in front of the trumpets and pozans distroys your hearing for certain extent. Actually, nowadays nobody can escape from the extreme noises, it is a different world than it used to be in the age of the horse carriages... Those who have any kind hearing loss should cure it because only a complete hearing gives you the maximum taste of the music and life. This obvious aim led us to accept the honour to become ambassador for the Hear the World in Hungary. Helping not only by music but also by dedication."


Zorán Sztevanovity was born in 1942 in Belgrade and moved with his parents to Hungary in 1948. At the dawn of the beat music along with his brother Dusán he founded one the most famous Hungarian formation the Metro. Initially they played English hits and later their own songs with which they became extremely popular. This period lasted untill 1972 when the Metro called the day.

Zorán worked with other bands and for a while he played in West Europe. The big turnover came in 1976 when Zorán opened his solo carrier with the help of the composer Gábor Presser (the texts of the songs comes as ever from his brother Dusán). Since then their relationship and also their success has been permanent. For his achievements Zorán won the highest Hungarian decoration the Kossuth Prize in 2006.

Why do you think the main goals of the Hear the World are important for you?
For us musicians the most important instrument is the ear. My own, of course, but also the hearing of our audience since if they don't hear what I am performing then it looses its sense. There are a lot of show element on the stage but the hearing on the spot and also at home if you listen to a cd or to record in the past it is your ear which helps you to enjoy the music. The hi-fi technic developes enormously, too, and all the experts make efforts to make us even more clear sounds and effects. During a man's life his or her hearing weakens with the time although for everyting in the life one needs a perfect hearing. Communication is on the top of the podium speaking about this – we all experienced what happens if it fails for any kind of reason. This is why it is so much important to bring up this topic on different forums and if I can help in some ways I do it passionately.

Is it a surprise to you that more than 10 percent of the population suffers from a certain level of hearing loss? Not only the elderly people but also the younger generation has problems with the hearing.
No, not really, because of my profession I have a idea of it. If I get a cold or have a soar throat and go to my specialist asking him helping me out. It is he who told me about a certain musician desease... or at least a problem which comes from the loud enviroment where we spend our professional life. Our ear is badly effected by the loud music and it is all the same for a musician in an orchestre and for a member of a rock band. The destroyed ear drum also make life thougher. So the ten percent of the hearing loss is not a novelty for me what's more I would say among the musicians the rate is even hingher as I experience. On the other hand, we musicians are not average people in this sense.

What's your opinion on the culture of the hearing on today's Hungary? Is it satisfactory?
Not at all. I personally never really heard of such a campaign or advertisement. This is why I believe that one should speak more often and „loundly” about this theme, may be this would serve a better way to the wide audience. Once, I do hope, the routine of the hearing test will be like to today a test of the hypertony. I wish that for the message of the Hear the World the a Hungarian people will have a good ear.

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