English Marathon: Purcell – Elgar - Britten
15 February 2026
“This royal throne of kings, this sceptered isle, This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, This other Eden, demi-paradise…” These are the words of Shakespeare in praise of England in Richard II. Among the trappings that enrich “this earth of majesty” is the musical culture of the island nation, as evidenced by traditions that continue to be painstakingly maintained today. Müpa Budapest’s 2026 marathon will bear testament to this by recalling three eras of English music through works by three composers in the course of this one-day concert series with long-standing popularity. The Baroque heights will be scaled by Henry Purcell through the vocal works of the British Orpheus who was comparable to Mozart both in terms of his genius and brevity of life, England’s imperialist bluster will be captured in the instrumental pieces of Edward Elgar, who was both a gentleman and a composer, and the pieces of Benjamin Britten will represent the turbulent 20th century just as they harken back to a more distant past. The 11 concerts of the series will once again feature Hungary’s finest musicians on stage.
