Balancing between Conducting and Composition
If one were to list Georgia’s most significant musicians, Vakhtang Kakhidze’s name would certainly feature in the top five. In the career of the 67-year-old artist, conducting and composing have been closely intertwined from the beginning, although he himself considers the latter to be his primary vocation.
Five Orchestras, One Myth
Why is the group of symphonic orchestras known as the ‘Big Five’ exactly five strong? What made Philadelphia, Chicago or Cleveland sound different? The label originated during the golden age of the record industry, but today it perhaps says more about a particular era than about the current pecking order of American orchestras.
A Place from which the Road Leads Far Away
The Talent Centre, which the guitarist founded in 2011 offers high-quality musical training to young artists, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds. There have been over 300 graduates to date, most of whom continued with their musical studies or work as musicians. Let’s take a look at the careers of some of the centre’s exceptionally talented former pupils!
A Meeting of Cultures?
Sosem kultúrák találkoznak, hanem emberek: a maguk által megképzett kulturális-közösségi elbeszélésekkel, előfeltevésekkel, vélt tudással, tapasztalatokkal, emlékezettel, érzékenységgel, azok általában reflektált, mégis szövevényes és önmaguk számára is feltárhatatlan pillanatnyi együttesével.
Contemporary Music for Everyone
They set out with the intention of transforming London’s contemporary music scene so that most concertgoers could enjoy the latest works, not just a select few. Alongside the programmes, the success of their mission owed much to the high calibre of their concerts, and for over fifty years now, the London Sinfonietta has been one of the world’s leading ensembles of new music
Hail Mary!
It so happens that several Marys came to play a prominent role in the composer’s life. While the most important part, in my view, was played by the above-mentioned Virgin Mary, no small roles were also taken by Marie d’Agoult, the mother of the composer’s children, and Marie, the daughter of Princess Carolyne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, another important companion in his life.
Where Trust is Part of the Curriculum
Thirty young musicians, four weeks in Felsőörs, and a teacher who doesn’t provide ready-made answers but plays alongside his pupils. A day at the Snétberger Music Talent Centre, where it soon becomes clear that the most important lesson isn’t learned from sheet music.
The Freedom of the Body
What does it mean to remain human in a world where being programmed is slowly overriding instinct? This is the question the Kossuth Prize-winning choreographer Pál Frenák explores in his latest work, FrenÉsie – RoadMovi(e)ng. We talked to him about creation, identity, the relationship between body and soul, and the uncertainty of the future.
Liszt, the Experimental Composer
Franz Liszt was an experimental artist ahead of his time who sought new paths in music: he boldly experimented with sounds, forms and musical boundaries, and his solutions would seem innovative even decades later. The Liszt Fest evokes the same spirit of curiosity, the search for new paths and the crossing of boundaries.
Sonic Immersion Courtesy of Autechre
One of the leading acts on the fringe of the electronic music scene is finally returning to Hungary after ten years. Read on to see why the duo of Sean Booth and Rob Brown are unmissable, and why you can be sure of a unique experience at their Budapest concert.
Liszt, the Globetrotter
For Franz Liszt travelling was more than a mere activity, it was a defining element of his identity. Packing up and being jolted about on long journeys were a constant part of his daily life, so it is fair to ask: where was the home that balanced all this out for him?
The best moments of Liszt Fest 2025
A Liszt Ünnep idén is lázba hozta a fővárost: minden helyszín a fesztivál más-más arcát mutatta, de a lényeg mindenhol ugyanaz volt: a Liszt szellemiségét idéző megkérdőjelezhetetlen minőség, virtuozitás, szenvedély és műfaji változatosság.
