MELODIES – Enescu / Mendelssohn / Brahms-Schönberg - Augustin Hadelich, András Keller and the MAV Symphony Orchestra – L2

The figure of Coriolanus, the tragically doomed Roman general, must have impressed Beethoven, who saw himself as a similarly lonely hero. Although the Austrian play that inspired the composer has not stood the test of time (at best we hear of Shakespeare's drama of the same title), Beethoven's Overture to Coriolanus is eternal. As is Symphony No. 8, a masterpiece of serenity reflecting Haydn, premiered in 1814, and a secret favourite of the composer because of its light, playful tone. 'My little F major', he referred to it in one of his notes. Gábor Takács-Nagy is one of the most innovative Beethoven conductors of our time; he can show something new with even a well-known piece like Symphony No. 5, which is now forever stamped with the adjective "fate", arbitrarily chosen by the composer's secretary.

Birds sing, then startle at the approaching storm, then the sounds of divertissement can be heard in the village: Vivaldi's Violin Concerto, Spring, contains some of the most beloved melodies in music history, this time played by solo violinist Jin Xi in our matinee concert. First published in French almost a century ago, in 1931, The story of Babar, the little elephant is a tale of an orphaned elephant who, thrown into modern Paris, learns the rules of civilised behaviour and returns to his own to become their king. Francis Poulenc's composition for orchestra, like Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, is narrated by a narrator. The orchestra is conducted by the rising conducting talent Dárius Teremi.

The musicians of our orchestra prepare their favorite pieces for the interactive program recommended for 0-3 year-old children. Edit Székely, the mastermind behind the series, is a flute-player and music teacher, who will make the event even more exciting with children’s songs and plays.