The world famous Kodály Quartet formed over four decades ago links the first great figure in the most elevated genre of classical music, Joseph Haydn whose 200th death anniversary we are celebrating this year, with one of the major contemporary representatives of the string quartet tradition, Emil Petrovics, whose third string quartet will be performed for the first time at this concert. Petrovics’s finely wrought first two string quartets can be regarded as late descendants of the tradition reaching from Haydn, through Beethoven, to Bartók, and he remains faithful to this tradition in his latest work too. Beethoven will also be represented at the concert, although not as a quartet composer: his rarely heard op. 20 Septet will be performed with the participation of several of today’s greatest wind soloists. Beethoven dedicated this early work to Maria Theresa and it became one of his most popular pieces in the first decade of the 19th century.

http://www.kodalyquartet.com/

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTrdbsyV1gI

Two centuries after the death of Joseph Haydn, on the birthday of Béla Bartók four young musicians are paying tribute to the major Austrian and the greatest Hungarian composer. The sensitively selected programme allows the four instrumentalists to show their solo and chamber music skills in practically all possible combinations and although they are perhaps less well known in Hungary, they certainly have abilities to present: they are among the most talented musicians of their generation. The Austrian Gottlieb Wallisch, who can already boast of a considerable discography, is paying tribute to his favourite composer with a series of three Haydn concerts in the Vienna Musikverein in the 2008/2009 season. Cellist Richard Harwood has won numerous prizes and last year EMI released his solo recording. The German clarinettist, Ralph Manno has a contract with Sony BMG and teaches at the Cologne Academy of Music. In addition to the performances of these exceptional musicians, the evening will also be of musical historical interest: there is certain to be a fruitful dialogue between the works of Haydn and Bartók, two composers who successfully blended their instinctive musicality and exceptional intellects.

“An angelic voice, the appearance of a young boy, an informal style. Philippe Jaroussky is a real pop star figure, he could even be the lead singer of a popular boys’ group. But the 30-year-old French artist is one of the world’s most acclaimed countertenors. He appears in Europe’s most prestigious opera houses, his solo albums sell well, Mezzo the classical music TV channel plays his recordings hourly. Jaroussky is the prototype of the countertenor of the modern age: slightly feminine, easily made a star and exceptionally talented.” Judit Beszterczey
"Many people come because they heard that the latest generation of castrati is here. All countertenors have to struggle with that. In most forums I say that there is no longer any need for bizarre and brutal techniques for a man to be able to sing in a high voice. I give detailed talks on the falsetto technique used to achieve this timbre." Jaroussky

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNWKnXgrroA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNWKnXgrroA&feature=related

CHANGE OF PROGRAMME
We regret to inform you that the viloin recital by Lev Solodovnikov has been cancelled.

http://www.melathandrea.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m56_ggjj3fw

If we accept the assessment of Stravinsky, who was sincerely enthusiastic about the art of Aladár Rácz and his instrument, that the cimbalom is a "rare beast", then we can say that one of the greatest cimbalom tamers of today is Ágnes Szakály. In her career of over thirty years marked by many successes she has not only made and played countless arrangements of classical works but fourteen cimbalom concertos have been written for her, ensuring her a place in the history of music in the late 20th century. And we have not even mentioned her excursions into jazz and other genres. At the Spring Festival she pays tribute to Joseph Haydn deceased in 1809, and with the two world premières included in her programme she wishes to show that in the 21st century the cimbalom will remain an important catalyst of new music and that, despite the distance of over 200 years, Joseph Haydn can still be regarded as one of our most influential contemporaries.