Four concerts in Pesti Vigadó

“We had very talented Hungarian people of music to learn from: Kodály, Farkas, Sugár, Kókai, Viski, Szervánszky and Somogyi. Just to mention the greatest names…”

Ervin Lukács

“This piece is pure harmony, and it is constructed exclusively on musical form and airiness. Even when the piece seems to be mischievous or capricious, it does nothing but presents untainted musical chirping, its wittiness reflects enthusiasm, and it is actually a kind of divertimento that entertains the spirit and invigorates the soul at the same time. It enthrals but also liberates its audience,” Hungarian academic Aladár Tóth writes about Ernő Dohnányi’s main musical composition entitled Symphonic Minutes, which presents not only the composer’s captivating expertise but also his virtuous skills of instrumentation and overflowing musicality. From the 1960s on, Zsolt Durkó has been one of the best-known and most often played Hungarian contemporary music composers, who was commissioned to write musical pieces by several world-renowned non-Hungarian performers and orchestras. His music is both European and consciously Hungarian, and, by way of relying on the musical traditions of his era, his compositions present the new ambitions and artistic goals characterising his age. In the scope of this concert, Zsolt Durkó’s Violin Concerto is played by the winner of the 2007 International Szigeti–Hubay Violin Competition and Hubay Special Award. The second part of the concert features a rarely played grandiose masterpiece: it is an exciting version of the symphony genre and originates from Franz Liszt’s workshop characterised by innovation and experimentation. Premiered in 1857, the musical piece presents a dreadful image of Dante’s travels through Hell and in Purgatory, with the existence of Paradise reflected only in the form of allusions. Despite the topic of the musical piece, the composition sounds nothing else but the music of the spheres complete with the choir of singing angels.

Conductor: Zsolt Hamar

Dohnányi: Symphonic Minutes, op. 36

Zsolt Durkó: Violin Concerto

Franz Liszt: Dante Symphony

Ádám Banda: violin

Hungarian National Choir (Chorus Master: Csaba Somos)

Hungarian National Philharmonic

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