Programme:
Emil Petrovics: Sinfonia per archi, Op. 13
József Soproni: Concerto for String Orchestra
Sándor Balassa: Overture and Scenes, Op. 103

Orchestra: Budapest Strings
Concertmaster: Gabriella Takács-Nagy
Host: László Gombos

The Budapest Strings Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1977 and has been a respected representative of Hungarian musical life for 48 years. Its founding artistic director was Károly Botvay, Kossuth Prize-winning cellist. The current concertmaster and artistic director is János Pilz, Liszt Prize-winning violinist.

In its concerts, the ensemble places special emphasis not only on the traditional chamber orchestra repertoire, but also on performing works by contemporary Hungarian composers. They frequently play pieces written specifically for the orchestra.

In their long-running series In the Mirror of the Classics, they commissioned and premiered new chamber orchestra works by contemporary composers for more than ten years.

In 2001, the ensemble received Hungary’s most prestigious professional recognition, the Bartók–Pásztory Prize, and in 2006, the Art Prize of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. In 2024, they were awarded the Sándor Balassa Prize.

Photo credit: Bekker Films_Budapest Strings

Organiser: Hungarian Academy of Arts – Section of Music