Budapest FO and Marc-André Hamelin in Montréal

By Christina Volpini, 18 February 2016

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“Hamelin delivered, executing delicate runs, octaves and trills of great length”

Reviewed at Maison symphonique, Montreal on 16 February 2016

Weber, Der Freischütz: Overture

Liszt, Piano Concerto no. 1 in E flat major, S 124

Prokofiev, Symphony no. 5 in B flat major, Op.100

Budapest Festival Orchestra

Iván Fischer, Conductor

Marc-André Hamelin, Piano

Clarity and communion in Budapest Festival Orchestra’s Mahler 3

Michelle Assay, 12th February

On the final leg of their North American tour, the Budapest Festival Orchestra’s Mahler proves a a transformative experience within the intimate setting of Toronto’s Koerner Hall.

*****

Budapest Festival Orchestra plays – and sings – at Carnegie Hall

Susan Stempleski, 6th February

Joined by violinist Maxim Vengerov, the Hungarian orchestra, under Music Director Iván Fischer, is in top form in a program of three highly contrasting pieces.

****1

Budapest Festival Orchestra at the Elbphilharmonie

Mengguang Huang, 11th November

Iván Fischer and Alina Ibragimova transform familiar works into a vivid experience. From Beethoven’s Violin Concerto to Strauss’ Josephs Legende, the orchestra dazzles with colour, energy and cinematic intensity.

****1

Unseduced: Don Giovanni opens the Budapest Festival Orchestra season

Orsolya Gyárfás, 9th September

Iván Fischer's reworking of his 2017 production of Don Giovanni is musically capable, but dramatically unconvincing.

***11

Bluebeard at the Proms with Iván Fischer and the BFO

Roy Westbrook, 6th August

The evening starts with life-affirming Beethoven – and then, the Budapest Festival Orchestra demonstrate just how good native Hungarians can be in Bartók’s chiller.

*****

Earth-shattering Mahler 2 from the Budapest FO at the Mahler Festival

Clare Varney, 11th May

As part of the Concertgebouw's ambitious Mahler Festival, Christiane Karg, Anna Lucia Richter and the Netherlands Radio Choir join the Budapest Festival Orchestra for the Resurrection Symphony.

*****

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Christina Volpini

Christina Volpini is a composer, pianist, and writer based in Montréal, Canada. Currently pursuing a Masters in Composition at McGill University, she writes for publications such as Bachtrack and Music & Literature. Christina is a new music enthusiast and an organizer of the Montréal Contemporary Music Lab.

Technical demands: Budapest Festival Orchestra and Marc-André Hamelin in Montréal