Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff are two defining figures in Russian music; in a certain musical sense, theirs is a father-son relationship. Emerging a generation later than Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff was significantly influenced by his predecessor. Melody plays a prominent part in the works of both composers; the emotional, flowing melodies which bear the stamp of Russian folk music and which all but mesmerise the listener. Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto in B-flat minor is just such a work, remaining ...popular to this day, some 120 years after the composer’s death. The piece was played at its original Moscow première by the same Sergei Taneyev to whom Rachmaninoff dedicated his Symphony No. 2. At this concert, Tchaikovsky’s work will be interpreted by a “brilliant magician of the keyboard” in the person of young Russian pianist Nikolai Tokarev. The year 2013 is both the 140th anniversary of Rachmaninoff’s birth and the 70th anniversary of his death. Written in 1906–07, his Symphony No. 2 cannot compare in fame with Isle of the Dead, the symphonic poem he composed in the same period, nor with the Piano Concerto No. 2 he completed some six years earlier. It does, however, have the unique feature of having undergone a revision by the composer during his time in America, as a result of which its hour-long running time was cut by almost half. On this occasion, the symphony will be heard in its original form, with the high standard of the performance assured by the presence of Zoltán Kocsis. Having already devoted enormous energies to popularising the works of Rachmaninoff in Hungary, Kocsis has a superlative knowledge of the life’s work of the late Romantic pianist and composer. He has recorded three of his piano concertos with the San Francisco Symphony, and has extensively studied the authentic style of performance of the Russian master’s music. Presented by: Hungarian National Philharmonic
Parking information
We wish to inform you that in the event that Müpa Budapest's underground garage and outdoor car park are operating at full capacity, it is advisable to plan for increased waiting times when you arrive. In order to avoid this, we recommend that you depart for our events in time, so that you you can find the ideal parking spot quickly and smoothly and arrive for our performance in comfort. The Müpa Budapest underground garage gates will be operated by an automatic number plate recognition system. Parking is free of charge for visitors with tickets to any of our paid performances on that given day. The detailed parking policy of Müpa Budapest is available here.
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