The Resume

(October 21, 1912-September 5, 1997)
Birth name was György Solti
Resided in the U.K.
Conducted the Chicago Symphony, the London Philharmonic and the Orchestre de Paris
Specialized in the works of Wagner, Verdi, Mahler, Bartok and Mozart
Recorded ‘Aïda,’ Mahler’s ‘Symphony #8,’ ‘Der Ring des Nibelungen,’ Tannhäuser,’ ‘Cosí fan tutte,’ the Verdi ‘Requiem,’ ‘Salomé,’ ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ and ‘Lohengrin’
Knighted (1972)

Why he might be annoying:

He could be sexist and rude.
He told a female clarinetist to ‘stop playing like a virgin.’
When he met the soprano Deborah Voigt, the first thing he said was: ‘Why are you so fat?’
He was a demanding musical ‘boss.’
Members of his orchestras called him ‘the Screaming Skull.’
He said he hated conducting Wagner operas because he couldn’t wait that long between trips to the bathroom.

Why he might not be annoying:

He was modest.
Because he was Jewish, he had to flee Hungary when the Nazis took power.
His heartless comments about Deborah Voigt’s weight inspired her to have gastric bypass surgery, which improved her health.
He won more Grammy awards than any other person in history.
One critic described his musical approach as ‘an orgasm in every bar.’

Credit: Wieland Kalligaro

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Chrome Domes and Cue Balls
• Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (Ranked: 1996)
• I am Hungarian
• I Died in 1997 (Ranked: 84)
• Kennedy Center Honorees (Ranked: 1993)
• Knights
• Look at Me, I'm Smooching
• Look at Me, Oh!
• My Song was Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (Ranked: 1998)
• Opera Singers and Composers
• Profiles 15251-15500 (Ranked: 15286)
• Wannabe Brits
• We Died on the Same Day (Ranked: 19970905)
• Wieland Kalligaro's Profiles [Series 6]

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 85.71% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 73 Votes: 54.79% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 24 Votes: 54.17% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 14 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 26 Votes: 84.62% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 83 Votes: 61.45% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 49 Votes: 61.22% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 17 Votes: 58.82% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 22 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 89 Votes: 59.55% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 640 Votes: 69.22% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 696 Votes: 68.82% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 739 Votes: 69.15% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 109 Votes: 55.96% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 78 Votes: 61.54% Annoying