Born in Budapest in December 1939, he took part in the 1956 Hungarian Uprising as a teenager.
Having initially studied music in the Hungarian capital, in 1961 he arrived in Poland, where his sister lived with her Polish husband.
Esztényi studied piano performance and composition at the State Higher School of Music in Warsaw, graduating with honours from both departments.
In 1968, he married Teresa Rosłoń, a pianist and teacher, and made Poland his second homeland.
Esztényi developed a fine career as a pianist and improviser, focusing on contemporary music.
He performed at numerous prestigious festivals, including the Warsaw Autumn, the Poznań Musical Spring, as well as those in Germany, Canada, Italy and Hungary.
He gave many premieres of works by Polish composers.
Esztényi was a professor of musical arts, teaching piano improvisation at the Music Academies in Warsaw and Łódź.
His compositional legacy comprises primarily pieces for piano and two pianos.
(mk/gs)