TICKETS

Dohnányi’s Festival Overture opened the gala concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of the unity of Pest, Buda and Óbuda in November 1923. In this composition, two symphony- and one wind-orchestras set off on different paths to becoming one large entity. The three ensembles weave three important melodies, the National Anthem, Egressy’s Appeal and Dohnányi’s Hungarian Creed. Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 is perhaps considered the most challenging piece in music history, written for the composer’s tour to the US. Besides the technical difficulties, the dense texture and profound substance make the piece especially heavy, and for the soloists, it is a particular challenge to surpass the recording, witnessing the ingenuity of the composer’s playing. Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 is also his last, which the master regarded so perfect that he decided not to write more works in this genre. The byname ″Organ″ is rooted in the curious fact the organ comes to play in two movements besides the orchestral instruments. The work is also connected to Hungary, as it was written in homage to Ferenc Liszt.

Ernst von Dohnányi: Festive Overture
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No.3 in D Minor
Camille Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 ″Organ″

János Balázs – piano
Szilárd Ferenc Kovács – organ

Conducted by: Tibor Bogányi