Bartók battles his inner demons and stars in his own Budapest ballet

By Mark Pullinger, 26 May 2021

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“the composer, lying in his hospital bed, haunted by Bluebeard – a striking image”

Reviewed at Müpa: Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, Budapest on 26 May 2021

Bartók, Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, Sz 106

Bartók, Concerto for Orchestra, Sz 116

Dóra Mojzes, Costume Designer

Ferenc Stadler, Lighting Designer

Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra

Gergely Madaras, Conductor

Szeged Contemporary Dance Company

Tamás Juronics, Choreography

Gergely Czár, Assistant to the choreographer, Dancer

Vencel Csetényi, Dancer

Petra Bocsi, Dancer

Boglárka Heim, Dancer

Róbert Kiss, Dancer

Réka Kiss, Dancer

Graziano Bongiovanni, Dancer

Marie Vilette, Dancer

Zsófia Liszkai, Dancer

Szandra Szigyártó, Dancer

Lotár Vincze, Dancer

Sheku Kanneh-Mason makes an outstanding Enescu Festival debut

Edward Sava-Segal, 19th September

The young cellist excels in Shostakovich with the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Cristian Mandeal.

****1

Argerich and Dutoit demonstrate that vitality is ageless

Edward Sava-Segal, 18th September

Martha Argerich returns to the Enescu Festival for one of the pillars of her repertory, Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto, in a buoyant performance.

***11

A radiant Werther in Budapest

Orsolya Gyárfás, 22nd February

In their role debuts, Tassis Christoyannis and Véronique Gens make for an incredible pair in this concert performance of Massenet's opera.

****1

Awesome grandeur: Berlioz’ Grand Messe des morts at Müpa Budapest

Orsolya Gyárfás, 1st November

Massed Hungarian forces impress in a monumental performance of Berlioz' grand work under Howard Williams' baton.

****1

The ultimate love story: Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde in Budapest

Alexander Hall, 16th June

As part of the annual Wagner festival in the Hungarian capital, Peter Seiffert and Allison Oakes star as the doomed lovers.

****1

Sensational Hungarian double bill at Müpa

David Smythe, 10th February

In a sensational Hungarian double bill of taut psychological drama at Müpa, Péter Eötvös' Senza sangue proves a thrilling partner to Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle.

*****

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Mark Pullinger

Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.