At an evening dedicated to Sándor Szokolay, Müpa Budapest and the Hungarian National Philharmonic remember one of the best known composers of the latter half of the 20th century, who passed away in 2013 and would have celebrated his 85th birthday in 2016. An extraordinarily prolific composer, Szokolay became widely known in the 1960s with his opera entitled Blood Wedding, which was premired in 1964. He wrote an additional six operas, some 25 oratorios, and numerous sacred and secular choral works, and it is from this exceptionally diverse output that we will hear some examples at this concert. The Overture Fantasia marked the 20th anniversary of the Pan-European Picnic, while the Trumpet Concerto dates from 1968 the latter composition to be performed by one of the worlds best-regarded trumpeters, Gábor Boldoczki, who is still shy of his 40th birthday. We will also hear one emblematic work each from Szokolays two great predecessors, Bartók and Kodály, the common thread being that both were composed for the same occasion in 1923, namely the 50th anniversary of the unification of Pest, Buda and Óbuda to form the modern capital of Budapest. The works will be performed by the Hungarian National Philharmonic and outstanding collaborators under the baton of Zoltán Kocsis, who has known and played Szokolays music from an early age, and is also regarded as one of the finest interpreters of the two great 20th century composers.

Presented by: Müpa Budapest, Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra