The concert programme spans the ages from 1811 to the 1960s. True to the spirit of the Hungarian Gems series, it draws deeply on both established and hidden values of our music history. Beethoven penned the night's first piece for the opening of the Royal Municipal Theatre in Pest. This incidental music enjoys popularity in Hungary and not only because of its title but also for the intimately familiar verbunkós motives. In the following piece, the Liszt Award-winning conductor István Dénes passes on the principal role to Miklós Perényi, as the Konzertstück composed by Ernst von Dohnányi in 1903-4 focuses on the cello, so dear to the composer thanks to his father's love for the instrument. In the same way, Trittico concertato by Ferenc Farkas also bears the promise of hearing the great Hungarian cellist: the debuting instrumental soloist, and at the same time, the person who commissioned the work for the 1965 Venice Biennale, was the major Spanish musician Gaspar Cassadó. There is an international association to the final piece on the programme: Zoltán Kodály's Concerto was written at the behest of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Its world premiere was staged by the then 50-year-old ensemble on 6 February 1941.

Programme:

BEETHOVEN: King Stephen – overture, Op. 117

DOHNÁNYI: Concertpiece in D major, Op. 12

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FARKAS: Trittico concertato

KODÁLY: Concerto for Orchestra

With:

Miklós PERÉNYI - cello

Concerto Budapest

Conductor: István DÉNES

Organiser: Concerto Budapest