By tradition, the Hungarian National Philharmonic holds its season-opening concert on the evening preceding the anniversary of the death of Béla Bartók. This time around, the programme is bookended by works by two Hungarian composers who, despite starting their work in the earliest years of the 20th century, are already considered part of the classical canon. It is interesting to note that Zoltán Kodály composed his lyrical symphonic poem in 1906, before he started suffusing his compositions with Hungarian folk music. The work is dedicated to Arturo Toscanini, who presented it together with the New York Philharmonic. Written in the spirit of the late Romantic style, Ernő Dohnányi's symphony provides a convincing testament to the young titan's amazing skill, energy and brilliance. This is the first symphonic piece that Dohnányi, a few years older than his contemporaries Bartók and Kodály and one of the most important pianists, composers and conductors of the first half of the 20th century, performed for an audience. While no doubt 'tamer” than its counterpart in the key of E-sharp major, Franz Liszt's Piano Concerto in A major is richer in moments of poetry and no less fascinating, captivating the listener with its magical way of building on the symbiosis of solo instrument and orchestra.
Dezső Ránki is an artist who shows more than just the glittering surface of Liszt's music: he also reveals the profundity of the composer's thinking in a way that is accessible - and unforgettable - to listeners. This concert will also serve as Zsolt Hamar's official début as music director after being appointed to succeed Zoltán Kocsis in March of this year.

Presented by: Hungarian National Philharmonic