NOVEMBER 2007 

Concert of the month

The Orfeo Orchestra and the Purcell Choir conducted by György Vashegyi will be giving a concert performance of the opera written by one of the most influential though tragically short lived English composer Henry Purcell. Concert goers will have the chance to enjoy the beautiful melodies of the semi-opera King Arthur performed by the two popular ensembles featuring with singers of international fame and success on 18 November 7 pm in the National Bartók Béla Concert Hall, Palace of Arts.

Musical instrument of the month: the saxophone

Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone was born in a small town, Belgium in 1814. After a childhood of illnesses, poisonings, and accidents following each other, the eldest son among the eleven children became a manufacturer of musical instruments. He made improvements on the clarinet and invented a brand new instrument, the saxophone, which, by material, belongs to the group of brass instruments, by structure it is rather a wood pipe one. Among others, the quick and wide-spread success of the new instrument was owing to the composers of the age who were keen on and welcomed everything new. Berlioz wrote about the saxophone with great enthusiasm. Though, it did not become a permanent member of the symphonic orchestra, however, when it turns up in some scores, it will not make anyone astonished any more. On 22 November 7.30 pm Vincent Le Quang will play on the soprano saxophone featuring with the excellent organist László Fassang and the singer Bea Palya.

Event of the month

The most august Hungarian music journal Muzsika turns fifty this year. On 13 November the elite of Hungarian musical life will gather to celebrate the half-century anniversary by playing pieces by Kodály, Eötvös, Kurtág, Ligeti, and other contemporary composers in the Palace of Arts. Concert goers will have the chance to enjoy the performance of such world famous musicians as Zoltán Kocsis, Dezső Ránki, Miklós Perényi, and the Amadinda Percussion Group.

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OCTOBER 2007 

The art of being born

At the right time, in the right place. Anybody ignoring this apparently simple rule can destroy their whole life. It is well known that a lot of excellent composers were eclipsed by even greater talents around in their time, for example, Saliery, who lived in the shadow of Mozart. I could also mention the half-Danish and half-German composer and organist Dietrich Buxtehude who died 300 years ago. He could have been the greatest musician of Baroque times if a certain Johann Sebastian Bach had not been born. Anyway, Buxtehude’s talent rivalled that of even the best of his time. An organist in Helsingör, then later in Lübeck he gave new life to different genres within ecclesiastical music. His modern and unusually harmonised pieces were performed in a series of concerts. His fame was so wide-spread that the 20- year-old Bach even risked losing his job in Arnstadt to travel on foot to see the master, who was already an old man at that time. He had an influence on another giant of Baroque music, Georg Friedrich Händel. This October there are two musical events commemorating Buxtehude’s talent: the Choir and Orchestra of the Kelenföld Lutheran Church conducted by Gábor Bence is giving a concert in their own church (district XI Bocskai út 10) on 13th October at 7.30 pm; and the Budapest Viktória Chamber Choir and Orchestra lead by Mária Farkas are playing the music of the Baroque master in the Inner City St. Michael’s Church (district V Váci út 47) on 19th October at 7.30 pm.

Musical instrument of the month: the harp

Hearing the word harp a lot of things can cross one’s mind, including King David, the world-famous Guinness, Greek mythology or the Irish dancers famous for the speed of their feet which make a sound like a machine-gun. But what do we actually know about this ancient musical instrument?

The harp is one of the oldest and most wide-spread musical instruments, originating from Egypt or Mesopotamia. It is the only one among its relatives which succeeded to survive and gain a place in composed music. Its shape and number of strings have changed a lot during the centuries. The harp, the musical instrument of kings and the aristocracy was renewed after 1720 when it was equipped with a clever pedal structure that enabled the musician to ‘tune’ all the strings while playing, and also play in any key. The harp was introduced by the Spanish to America, and at once, it became a popular folk music instrument in the Southern states.

Film - Music, Paris - Transylvania

Two concerts of film music will be included in the programme of the Budapest Autumn Festival that is sixteen years old this year. The composition written by the young French Yan Maresz for chamber orchestras, including electronic musical instruments, will be performed on 12 October at 7.30 pm in Millennáris Teátrum. The piece was written for the first silent film directed by René Clair in 1925. It will be performed by the Ensemble Court-Circuit led by Peter Kawka who also performed the premier of the piece in IRCAM in Paris. This young and promising contemporary musical group was founded in 1991. Since then, the composition accompanied by the film has been showcased with great success at festivals in several countries.

The art of being born at the right time has been mentioned above in connection with Buxtehude. But what will happen to those who are good at being born but not good at dying?

The immortal story of the vampire Nosferatu is a perfect example of this. The very first and probably the most famous adaptation of the story of the Transylvanian bloodsucker was the silent film made by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau in 1921. According to Béla Balázs film critic (also a librettist who wrote the text of Béla Bartók’s Duke Bluebeard‘s Castle), this work of art radiates the cold breath of ‘the other world’. Wolfgang Mitterer was inspired by this cold breath to compose his own musical notes for the filmic symphony of horror. The premier of his piece written for the organ and electronic musical instruments was in 2002. It is composed for the film but can be regarded as an independent work of art as you can discover on 15th October at 21.10 in the Great Hall of the Academy of Music, which has not been visited by vampires so far. Or has it?

SEPTEMBER 2007

Musicial event of the month

One of to most significant events of modern contemporary music, the festival named ‘Music of Our Age’ has taken place at the beginning of October each year since 1974. From time to time the series of concerts provides occasions for the audience to become acquainted with dozens of new compositions and young composers. It also highlights pieces composed by distinguished international representatives of contemporary music. Besides new experiments, less-known and regrettably neglected works of some classical composers of the 20th century are also included in the programme. Now, the name the ‘Music of Our Age’has become a trademark and one of the most important showcases of contemporary music. This year every supporter of contemporary music is welcome at each of the venues of the festival from September 29 to October 6.

Musicial instrument of the month: Harpsichord

The origin of the harpsichord goes back to the early Middle Ages. Islamic society used several versions of the zither, the ancestor of the harpsichord. It appeared in Europe during the 12th century, where the string instrument, after several alterations of its shape, was eventually equipped with the keyboard, a characteristic of the organ. When pressing a key, a plectrum made from feather plucks the metal string and is then drawn back to the starting position by a spring structure. Originally, the harpsichord was mitre and concave in shape. During the 16-18th centuries the harpsichord became one of the most important musical instruments of the age.

Borbála Dobozy is giving a harpsichord concert in the Festival Theatre, Palace of Arts on September 17 at 7.30 pm.

Concert of the month

János Vajda, one of the most productive and successful of Hungarian composers, is often inspired literature. His latest piece ‘About the Five Breads’ composed for singer and chamber orchestra is based on Capek’s grotesque writing. The twenty minute-long opera novel was composed at the request by the Mahler Festival. The performers are the Budapest Festival Orchestra conducted by Iván Fischer and singer Attila Fekete. The premier is on the 12th September 7.45 pm, at the Festival Theatre, Palace of Arts. Knowing Vajda’s earlier pieces we are sure you will not be disappointed by his new work of art.

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AUGUST 2007

The number ten - part 1

TEN days of the Jewish Summer Festival will begin on 25th August, being one of the most popular event in Hungary. Celebrating its TENth birthday, the Festival will include many aspects of arts (theatre, film, fine arts, photography, oratory, painting, jazz, operetta, klezmer, pop music, literature, chamber music), reaching to public who are otherwise not interested in art events. Visitors may get an insight into a previously unfamiliar culture, and they can even become a part of it for a short while. Participants can gain knowledge of Jewish culture, customs, festivities, as well as artists and performers who represent that.

The number ten - part 2

This year it is the TENth anniversary of the classical music festival „Haydn at Eszterháza”, held in Fertőd-Eszterháza, a good three hours drive from Budapest. The beautiful palace and the park can be a great experience for all tourists, however, listening to a concert in one of the palace halls can make it unforgettable forever. Hungarian and foreign artists will give 9 concerts of Haydn’s less known chamber music oeuvre.

Musical instrument of the month: the baryton

No, it is not a misprint; we are not talking about the voice that can be heard in all opera houses around the world. Indeed baryton is a musical instrument that was a very popular one between the mid-17th and early 19th centuries. It was a favourite household musical instrument. It is a member to the gamba family, with six gut strings. Just like with the cello today, it had to be placed between the legs, but baryton has over its 6 strings 7 to 28 so-called sympathetic wire strings on the back plate of the instrument. They may as well be plucked by the left thumb.

An example of its popularity is the fact that Haydn, who was asked to learn to play the baryton by his lord, composed 170 solo and chamber pieces for baryton, dedicated to Prince Nikolaus Esterházy. The sound of the instrument can be heard on the concert of the Haydn Baryton Trio Budapest, held on 22nd August at 7.00 pm in the garden of the Vojnovich-Huszár Villa (Budapest XXII. Művelődés u. 37/a).

Concert of the month 

On 20th August, the holiday remembering King St. Stephen, founder of the Hungarian state, a choir concert will be given by one of the most interesting Hungarian choir, St. Ephrem Byzantine Men’s Choir. The title of the concert is The Saint of East and West, and includes Byzantine hymns, Gregorian chants as well as pieces by Liszt, János Boksay and Rachmaninoff. The event will take place in the St. Stephen Church in Budatétény, at 6.00 pm (XXII. Lépcsős u. 8.).

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JULY 2007

„Come to Óbuda” as a popular song recommended a century ago, although this time we do not offer cottage cheese pasta (túrós csusza) for our readers, but the all-summer going programme of Óbuda Summer 2007. This is the largest cultural event in Budapest. The area of North Buda, already inhabited in Roman times, boosts a variety of programmes for those who seek relaxation. There will be chamber music and organ concerts, open air theatre performances for pleasant summer evenings. At the centre of the festival, on Main Square (Fő tér) the popular symphonic dances of Kodály will be performed alternately with classical big band, popular movie songs, easy listening symphonic music, the best known pieces of Imre Kálmán, king of the Operetta, traditional Dixieland and an „all that jazz” performance of swing and musicals by outstanding artists.

Musical instrument of the month: the organ

The organ is one of the most ancient musical instruments, its roots go back to the antiquity. There are remains and reconstructions of water organs from Roman times, these can be regarded as direct predecessors of present day organs. In the 4th century the hydraulic system was replaced by pneumatics. Organ has been used in church music since the 9th century. The most important changes were made in the Baroque era, following the masterpieces of Buxtehude and J. S. Bach.

Organ music will be performed in the churches of Budapest and countrywide, as well a sin concert halls. For July and August we recommend to you the series of Downtown Summer Organ Evenings (Belvárosi Nyári Orgonaestek), held in the Downtown Parish Church (Belvárosi Plébániatemplom) at 7:30 pm. Every Sunday (address: 2 Március 15. tér, Budapest).

The Zemplén mountains in North-East Hungary have good, clean air, fast mountain springs, minerals protruding to the surface and an overall tranquillity. Between 10th and 19th August special cultural events will pair up with the natural beauty as the Zemplén Festival is held there. Beautiful venues like Sárospatak or Hollóháza enchant the visitors, but also excellent wine can be tasted in Tokaj, Tállya or Erdőbénye. This festival has all that one would need for an excellent time: beautiful locations, good wine and wonderful music played by the Amadinda Percussion Ensemble, the Pannon Philharmonics and the Budapest Ragtime Band.

 Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras are widely known to be opera singers. It is also recognised that they are tenors. But far less people know what a contra-tenor is like. The 1st International Handel Singing Competition was held in Eger, between 29th March and 1st April. The special prize of Musicianswho.hu was won by Barnabás Hegyi, a young contra-tenor opera singer. Barnabás Hegyi was talking to András Kertész, Director of MusiciansWho about his career, his studies and how to be an organist, a conductor and an opera singer at the same time. He also unveiled that although contra-tenors have a high voice pitch, they are true gentlemen. The interview can be read at www.musicianswho.com/hegyibarnabas.

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JUNE 2007 

Musical instrument of the month: the LUTE

It is hard to imagine it today, but centuries ago summertime meant love, love meant serenades and serenades meant lute music.

Lute is a string instrument that originates from Arabia. It first got to Spain by the Moors and then it spread across Europe in the 13-14th centuries. It became an important part of church music and secular music, and it had kept its role until the end of the Baroque era. The number of its strings varied between 5 and 12 according to type or size. Our most famous lutist was Sebestyén Tinódi Lantos whose name refers to the musical instrument.

István Kónya is giving a renaissance lute concert of in the Palace of Buda in the Budapest Historical Museum on 17th June at 7.00 p.m. More details

June is time for the Miskolc Opera Festival

Miskolc Opera Festival always Bartók plus something: this year the name Paris comes after the + mark. French opera specialties are promised in special venues. Those who want more than opera can also enjoy ballet performances from Vienna to Moscow. More details

Concert of the month

Some love it, others find it too long, but no one can remain indifferent. The first two parts of the four nights’ music drama of Wagner will be performed twice in June. Das Rheingold and Die Walküre will be performed in German and scened in the great hall of the Palace of Arts. Main roles will be sung by prominent Hungarian and international opera singers. The Symphonic Orchestra of the Hungarian Radio will be conducted by Adam Fischer.