Liszt's Ave Maria is a piano piece that was also a part of Kocsis's repertoire, which is perhaps how the latter had the idea of arranging it for the orchestra. Rachmaninoff's symphonic poem The Isle of the Dead was inspired by a painting by Arnold Böcklin after the composer viewed a black-and-white photograph of Böcklin's work. When Rachmaninov saw the coloured version, however, he disappointedly commented that "If I had seen the original first, I could hardly have composed my piece. I prefer it in black and white.” The melody of the Gregorian chant Dies irae plays an important role in the Isle of the Dead, and also forms the basis for the next work in the programme, Liszt's Dance of Death. Indeed, in the composition written for piano and orchestra that follows after the interval, Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, we will hear a final reference to this medieval melody that evokes the Last Judgement and which was so loved by Romantic composers. To complete the programme, Mazeppa is one of Liszt's most popular symphonic poems and was written based on the poem by Victor Hugo in Weimar in 1851. The work of literature tells the story of a heroic Cossack leader who is tied to a wild horse by the enemy - which explains the stormy character of the passionate music. Martin Rajna's career has been making great strides both in Hungary and further afield. Olga Kern is a piano virtuoso of Russian origin who resides in America and was the 2001 winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.

Presented by: Hungarian National Philharmonic