Rhapsody Essence

Pianist János Balázs is a featured artist of the Concerto Budapest season, and at the same time a worthy representative of the incomparable intellectual and artistic legacy of György Cziffra. Under the baton of András Keller, he will guide the audience into the intricacies of the rhapsody as a musical genre. Defined as a loosely structured, often folk-inspired, fantasy-like instrumental work, four masterpieces — not so different in age but very diverse in musical background — will be performed during this evening of the Cziffra Festival.

Ravel’s rhapsody, with its Andalusian motifs, has been described as “more Spanish than the Spaniards themselves,” and opens the concert. It is followed by Rachmaninoff’s composition, which revives Italian virtuoso traditions. In this work, the Russian-born composer, who emigrated to the United States, takes the famous theme of Paganini’s 24th Caprice as the starting point. Liszt also worked with this theme, and on this occasion his Second Rhapsody is included in the program, blending Hungarian and Romanian folk motifs, providing a perfect bridge to the grand finale: Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, a true audience favorite known for its synthetic brilliance, in which the composer, equally at home in the world of revue, showcases the most characteristic American motifs.

(A joint concert of the Cziffra Festival and Concerto Budapest)

Supported by: Prime Minister’s Office, Bethlen Gábor Fund Management Ltd.