Hungarian conductor Michael Halász began his career as a conductor at the Munich Gärtnerplatz Theater where he directed all operetta productions between 1972 and 1975. In 1975 he moved to Frankfurt as Principal Conductor under Christoph von Dohnányi, working with the most distinguished singers and conducting all the important works of operatic repertoire.
Engagements as a guest conductor followed at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, State Opera Hamburg and in Turin, and in 1977 von Dohnányi brought him to the Hamburg State Opera as Principal Conductor. From 1978 to 1991 he was General Music Director of the Hagen Opera House. During this time he made guest appearances in the major opera houses of Germany, including Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart and Munich. In 1991 he took up the post of Resident Conductor at the Vienna State Opera.