When choosing which of Haydn's symphonies to perform, larger symphonies usually opt for his later "London” symphonies, as these are the closest to today's symphonic ideal. This time, however, Gilbert Varga has chosen an early symphony, one without a sobriquet and consisting of only three movements, to open the concert. Even though Bartók was unable to complete his Viola Concerto, it has nevertheless became a quite popular part of the repertoire. What makes the work interesting in terms of music history is the fact that three different endings have been created for it over the past nearly 80 years, of which the second, the 1995 version, was edited by Péter Bartók, the composer's son. This is the version that will be played at this concert. Finally, we will witness Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring and its portrayal of the season's ancient sacred nature, in which the instruments in the orchestra sound like the dancers of a large tribe. The work depicts pagan rituals connected to the annual reawakening of nature based on Russian fairy tales and the composer's own imagination.

Presented by: Pannon Philharmonic