Organ transcriptions in Budapest

By Catherine Ennis, 30 May 2016

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“all shades of colour in between can be reached instantly by the touch of a piston”

Reviewed at Müpa: Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, Budapest on 22 May 2016

Bartók, The Miraculous Mandarin, Op.19: Suite

Kodály, Dances of Marosszék

Szathmáry, Mors et vita (Hungarian première)

Liszt, Les Préludes, symphonic poem no. 3, S 97

Balázs Szabó, Organ

Zsigmond Szathmáry, Organ

Staatskapelle Dresden’s sonic alchemy at the Elbphilharmonie

Mengguang Huang, 2nd June

From the earthy joy of Meistersinger to the sublime textures of Debussy, Daniele Gatti channels the Dresdeners' legendary, layered warmth into an unforgettable evening of pure acoustic luxury.

****1

Jurowski marks Hans Werner Henze’s centenary at the Elbphilharmonie

Mengguang Huang, 31st May

Vladimir Jurowski and the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin deliver a lean, razor-sharp exploration of captivity and survival, balancing Beethoven’s and Brahms’ structural clarity against the devastating, high-fidelity distortion of Henze’s Ninth Symphony.

****1

Kissin, Bell and Isserlis: remembrance and loss at Carnegie Hall

Edward Sava-Segal, 31st May

Solomon Rosowsky, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky form a matinee programme whose deeper connections gradually came into focus.

****1

Mischievous Pan at Hong Kong Sinfonietta’s French May

Christopher Halls, 30th May

French clarinettist Raphaël Sévère unearths beauty in Nielsen’s concerto and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta impress in two settings of Pan’s antics at the French May Festival.

****1

Alsop conducts a substitute Marsalis symphony at Carnegie Hall

David Wolfson, 29th May

The premiere of Wynton Marsalis’ Symphony no. 5 is postponed, substituted by selections from his Jungle Symphony, along with a disappointing Beethoven’s Seventh at Carnegie Hall.

***11

It's a hero's life for Gustavo Dudamel at Disney Hall

Néstor Castiglione, 29th May

Dudamel closes in on the end of his Disney Hall tenure in heroic style with Richard Strauss' tone poem, Ein Heldenleben.

****1

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Catherine Ennis

Catherine Ennis was Director of Music at the City of London church of St Lawrence Jewry next Guildhall. Her career as recitalist and recording artist took her to many international venues, and she taught or examined at three major London Music conservatoires. Her energy and enthusiasm helped create four major new London organs. In 1994 she founded the London Organ Concerts Guide, now an indispensible companion to London's organ music scene. She was Past President of the Royal College of Organists, and Past President of the Incorporated Association of Organists.

Liszt, Kodály and Bartók organ transcriptions in Budapest