Programs

Harmonia Sacra reveals one of the most fascinating musical worlds of 17th-century England: an intimate religiosity in which personal devotion meets expression of almost theatrical power. The songs in Henry Playford’s collection are not the ceremonial music of church liturgy, but rather intimate moments of dialogue between man and God, in which faith, doubt, repentance and hope find voice. In the works of Henry Purcell, John Blow, Matthew Locke and Pelham Humfrey, text and music are interwoven with extraordinary sensitivity, at times in poignantly simple gestures, at others in passionately dramatic ones. Harmonia Sacra is thus not merely a collection spanning several centuries, but a series of stories that still speak directly to us today about faith, human emotions and the search for eternity. Drawing on a selection of these rarely performed compositions, the concert offers a glimpse into this lesser-known, more personal side of the English Baroque.

This season, the Dohnányi Quartet is launching its tenth themed concert series at the BMC Library. The thread running through this year’s programme is geographical in nature: the ensemble selected works by composers from two European regions with rich musical traditions, which are very far apart on the map, and which would certainly not be associated with string quartet repertoire at first glance, even though their representatives have enriched the genre with outstanding and truly exciting pieces. The encounter between rarely heard Nordic and Italian string quartets in the Dohnányi Quartet’s series therefore promises to be a real treat.

The language of this event will be Hungarian. Please refer to the Hungarian version of this page for details.

Les Voix humaines, or “Human Voices.” The concert takes its title from Marin Marais’s work of the same name, which also refers to one of the viola da gamba’s most distinctive characteristics: its sound closely resembling the human voice. The concert features a unique ensemble, three violas da gamba and a harpsichord, performing German and French Baroque music from the 17th and 18th centuries. In the first part of the program, the German Baroque repertoire is represented by works by Dietrich Buxtehude, an unknown composer whose work has survived in the Düben Collection, and Johann Michael Nicolai. In the second part of the concert, the era of Louis XIV’s court and the unique world of French viola da gamba music take center stage through works by Marin Marais and Antoine Forqueray. The rarely heard trio of three violas da gamba creates a particularly rich soundscape reminiscent of the various registers of the human voice. Réka Nagy, Mátyás Ölveti, Sándor Szászvárosi, and Katalin Kovács have been collaborating for many years. Réka Nagy and Mátyás Ölveti are former students of Sándor Szászvárosi, and today they work together with their former teacher as artists and colleagues. Through their commitment to early music, they have developed a shared musical language with harpsichordist Katalin Kovács. The concert thus represents both a convergence of different artistic paths and a shared musical vision. Photo: Ferenc Kis

The first independent BMC concert by the Réz körút septet marks the culmination of a live workshop process. The program is built around contemporary Hungarian works written specifically for the ensemble over the past year, including multiple world premieres. Composing for a brass septet is a unique initiative in today’s Hungary. The participating composers employ cutting-edge techniques in their works: extended instrumental playing – such as special blowing techniques, percussive effects, and unique timbres – combine with varied textures and a sweeping, at times ethereal soundscape to create a rich, vibrant acoustic experience rarely encountered by audiences. During the concert, brief, informal conversations with the composers offer direct insight into the creative process, inspirations, and the stories behind the birth of the pieces. The language of the discussions is Hungarian. Photo: Réz körút