Hungarian Classical Music Day

As is the case every year, the Day of Hungarian Classical Music celebrates our musical heritage on the anniversary of the birth of Zoltán Kocsis. Classical values are represented by Liszt and Kodály in Ave Maria and the Hungarian Folk Music series respectively, with both works played in the form of arrangements by Kocsis. The cello of Miklós Perényi will sound out Dohnányi’s rarely heard masterpiece, his Konzertstück in D major for Cello and Orchestra, and the programme will close with a contemporary opus from Levente Gyöngyösi entitled Missa “Vanitas vanitatum”. The Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir will be conducted by György Vashegyi, while Anna Sára Nagy, Jenő Dékán, István Gáspár, Csilla Csővári and Zsombor Cserményi will sing in the vocal works.

Now verging on tradition, the Day of Hungarian Classical Music concert provides an opportunity both to pay tribute to the memory of Zoltán Kocsis, the former chief music director of the Hungarian National Philharmonic, to perform works of lasting value by Hungarian composers, and to draw attention to an example or two of new Hungarian music. This year, Liszt’s Ave Maria and Kodály’s Hungarian Folk Music series bring to life worthy pieces of music from the past while paying our respects to Kocsis – both of the works will be heard as arrangements by the great pianist and composer. The recently added branches on the Hungarian tree of music will be represented by Levente Gyöngyösi, whose Missa “Vanitas vanitatum” will close the evening.

The concert conducted by György Vashegyi will see Anna Sára Nagy, Jenő Dékán, István Gáspár, Csilla Csővári and Zsombor Cserményi come together as the cream of the Hungarian singing community, while Dohnányi’s rarely heard masterpiece, Konzertstück in D major for Cello and Orchestra, gives us the chance to glory in the play of one of the greatest Hungarian musical performers, Miklós Perényi. The Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra’s vocal sibling, the Hungarian National Choir, will also have a role to play.