In this relaxed and conversational ongoing series of the Hungarian National Philharmonic, the orchestra’s soloists perform another programme of exciting works. Richard Wagner wrote his short symphonic poem the Siegfried Idyll – intended for performance by a chamber orchestra in intimate family surroundings – as a gift to his wife Cosima after the birth of their son of the same name in 1869. It was first heard on Christmas morning 1870, when it was said that Cosima awoke to its opening melody. The quartet featured here by one of the most important figures in Czech music in the 20th century, Bohuslav Martinů, reveals in its instrumentation the unique voice of its composer. Claude Debussy’s Chansons de Bilitis, originally composed for voice and piano and completed in 1898, is an unusual piece in his oeuvre. At the original première, the version transcribed for chamber ensemble was performed beneath a recitation of accompanying poems.

Presented by: Hungarian National Philharmonic