Miklós Lukács | Cimbalom Artist

Miklós Lukács is internationally renowned for redefining the role of the cimbalom on the global stage. Distinguished composers including Péter Eötvös, György Kurtág, and Máté Bella have written works for him, recognizing his ability to push the instrument beyond its traditional context into the heart of contemporary concert life. He has performed as soloist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, RAI National Symphony Orchestra, Hamburg Philharmonic, and Vienna Radio Symphony, appearing at such prestigious venues as the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Philharmonie de Paris, Barbican Centre, and Müpa Budapest.

Equally at home in jazz, Lukács has collaborated with Charles Lloyd, Bill Frisell, Steve Coleman, Chris Potter, and Archie Shepp, bringing the unique sound of the cimbalom to major festivals including Montreux, Berlin, and London. His genre-crossing artistry, bridging classical, contemporary, folk, and jazz traditions, has earned him recognition in international media such as The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and The Guardian. With more than fifty recordings — many as a leader — he has created a reference discography that has expanded the global perception of his instrument.

Lukács’s achievements have been honored with Hungary’s highest prizes, including the Liszt, Erkel, and Prima Awards, as well as election to the Széchenyi Academy of Literature and Arts. Beyond awards, his true distinction lies in being one of the few musicians worldwide to establish the cimbalom as a respected solo instrument across genres and borders. Today, he is regarded as a pioneering ambassador of Hungarian musical excellence and one of the most innovative instrumentalists on the international scene.