MÁV Erdélyi/3. Zeneakadémia 21-22

A IX. szimfóniát nem túlzás az európai zene legjelentősebb remekművének jellemezni, amely végigkísérte nagy veszteségeinket és győzelmeinket: a wagneri összművészet egyik ihletforrása, a szabadság himnusza, sokak számára a berlini fal leomlásának kísérőzenéje. Egyesek egy öntörvényű zseni megnyilatkozását, mások a közös szellem erejét hallják benne. Az első hangok a „semmiből teremtés” mágikus aktusát, az utolsó ütemek a mindenség önfeledt ünnepélyét jelenítik meg.

Apollo and Dionysus, idyll and rampant celebration: such pairs of opposites could be used to describe Beethoven's two symphonies, the Symphony No. 6 and Symphony No. 7. The first is one of the most beautiful examples of music depicting nature, in which we hear birdsong, the murmur of a stream, a shepherd's horn. The second, which – after Richard Wagner’s often quoted remark – has been called 'the Apotheosis of the Dance itself', was a resounding success in its day in the imperial city. It contains the popular Allegretto, which was applauded by the audience at its premiere and on occasion has been performed as a stand-alone piece. The fourth evening in Gábor Takács-Nagy's Beethoven series features works by the composer from his "Promethean" period.

From virtuoso pianist, Franz Liszt became an accomplished composer, and his much-loved symphonic poem Les Préludes is a testament to his mature voice. Nevertheless, his Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major is also a masterpiece, this time featuring Canadian solo pianist Kevin Chen. The soloist won first prize at the 2021 Franz Liszt International Piano Competition in Budapest and was previously the winner of the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition in Tel Aviv. The cantatas by two esteemed composers, János Vajda and György Orbán, were commissioned by the Honvéd Ensemble on the centenary of the Great War as a warning against all wars of all times, as a joint "artistic ritual" for humanity and peace.