As the festive season draws near, music too takes on a different light — warmth, brightness, and joy fill every note. On December 7th, in the Ceremonial Hall of the Pesti Vigadó, jazz will take center stage, where the world of Baroque masterpieces meets the freedom of modern music.

Johann Sebastian Bach’s Magnificat is a true jewel box: despite its relatively modest proportions, it reveals an incredible richness of musical, emotional, and intellectual depth — all wrapped in the most splendid garments of Baroque music. Confronted with such perfection, one can’t help but wonder: how would the Master have written this in a later age, in another musical language? How would he compose it today — with different instruments, different means of expression, a different pulse? The question is, of course, rhetorical; we will never know. We can only imagine the answer: it would be just as brilliant.

In Adrián László Nagy’s arrangement, Bach’s themes are given a new attire — infused with elements of blues, funk, gospel, and rock. Alongside the Hungarian National Male Choir, outstanding jazz musicians and popular soloists will bring to life a work by one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time.

Programme:
Improvisations on Bach Themes
J. S. Bach – Adrián László Nagy: Jazznificat

Performers:
Balogh Eszter, Denk Viktória (soprano), Murányi Márta (alto), Adamik András (tenor), Manuel Betancourt Camino (bass),
Balázs Szalóky, Péter Tulkán (trumpet), Sándor Zsemlye (saxophone), Sebestyén Nagy (marimba), Adrián László Nagy (piano),
Alex Berkesi (bass guitar), Tamás Berdisz (drums)
Hungarian Studio Orchestra (concertmaster: Balázs Bujtor)

Conductor: Richárd Riederauer

Photo credit: János Posztós

Organized by: Honvéd Ensemble Nonprofit Ltd.

The concert is supported by the Hungarian Academy of Arts.