Rare Classical Music Festival Coming to Szeged
Classical Music Festival in Szeged Honoring Saint Gerard
A classical music festival will be taking place in Szeged starting on Monday in celebration of the feast of Saint Gerard, the first bishop of the Szeged-Csanád diocese. The organizers have announced that the aim of the concert series is to invite Hungarian audiences from across the border to a classical music event that emphasizes and strengthens the cross-border relationship between faith and art. The festival, which will run until October 2, will showcase works that contribute to the already rich musical life of Szeged and present true classical music rarities.
The unique acoustics of the Szeged Cathedral will provide a special atmosphere for the concerts throughout the festival. The opening concert on Monday will feature a chamber performance by pianist Soma Balázs-Piri and violinist Yoon-Hee Kim. Balázs-Piri, a talented pianist born in Szeged and currently studying at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, will be performing works by Chopin, while Kim, a young violinist from Korea, will showcase two solo pieces by Bach.
The festival will continue with a baroque evening the following day, featuring Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations for Baroque Trio and Basso continuo, conducted by Mónika Tóth. The trio includes Gianni Maraldi on bass violin, Michal Stahel on cello, and Dóra Pétery on harpsichord.
For the past few years, the festival has included a guest concert in Budapest as well. On September 27, the Anima Musicae Chamber Orchestra, opera singer Anastasia Churakova, violinist Eun Che Kim, pianist Itai Navon, and cellist LiLa will perform works by Mozart in the Great Hall of the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. The evening will feature the Haffner Symphony in two movements, conducted by the festival’s artistic director, Yoon Kuk Lee.
The following day, the same concert will be presented in the Szeged Cathedral. The festival will conclude with a closing concert featuring Klára Würtz and Kristóf Baráti, who will perform Beethoven’s Sonata No. 8 for violin and piano, followed by Mendelssohn’s Concerto for Violin, Piano and Strings with the Anima Musicae Chamber Orchestra.
Classical music enthusiasts and fans can follow updates and announcements about the festival on the official Facebook page of the Szent Gellért Fesztivál. The festival promises a week packed with exquisite performances and music that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Szeged.
Via MTI, Featured image: Pixabay
