At the end of January, between two regular concerts, the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra gives another one in memory of the victims of the holocaust. The winter concert series feature renowned conductors as well as young, award-winning soloists.
As a look back on the holocaust memorial year, the 26 January concert wishes to pay tribute to those who died in the concentration camps including numerous artists and workers of the Hungarian State Opera. The memorial concert is opened by Miklós Szinetár, honorary general director. The programme features A Survivor from Warsaw by Arnold Schönberg, Symphony No. 3 by Henryk Górecki with soloist Orsolya Hajnalka Rőser, as well as a poem by war-victim Hungarian poet Miklós Radnóti recited by Gabriella Varga. Conductor of the evening is Ari Rasilainen, a guest conductor of several European and American symphonic orchestras.
An exhibition to accompany the concert is organized in the Red Parlour to commemorate those musicians who became victims of the war. The series of plaques is a selection of those created by Katalin Gerő.
A week before the Holocaust Memorial concert the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra gives a concert on 19 January. It is conducted by Tamás Vásáry. The programme features works by Kodály, Liszt and Beethoven. Soloist of the evening is Mihály Berecz, a young pianist who has already received several awards.
The last winter concert of the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra takes place on 9 February. Returning guest conductor is internationally renowned Christian Badea, a student of Herbert von Karajan, who has appeared at the greatest operas of the world. He is also recognized as an excellent symphonic conductor. He has conducted more than 160 performances at the New York Metropolitan Opera. At the Hungarian State Opera, he conducts a series of Der fliegende Holländer before the concert, and he is returning in spring to conduct the performances of Parsifal. The symphonic concert features Passacaglia by Anton Webern, Violin Concerto by Brahms, and the popular ballet music, The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky. Soloist of the Violin Concerto is Alexandra Conunova from Moldavia. The young artist won first prize at the Joseph Joachim Violin Competition in 2012. She is a returning guest at European stages, last year she made her debut in the Far East as well.
A limited number of tickets are available. For more information and ticket order visit www.opera.hu.
