February 10, 2009

 

Extremely Hungary 2009 Officially Opens in Washington, DC

 

Extremely Hungary 2009, a year-long festival of Hungarian culture opened with a concert on Saturday, February 7, 8pm in the Library of Congress and another concert on Sunday, February 8, 6pm in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.

 

The concert in the Library of Congress was introduced by a press conference held by Hungarian Minister of Education and Culture István Hiller, Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi, Director of the Hungarian Cultural Center (HCC) in New York László Jakab Orsós, Susan Vita, Chief of the Music Division of the Library of Congress.

 

 

Hungarian Minister of Education and Culture István Hiller said that during the preparation of 'Extremely Hungary 2009' Hungary found open arms and tough negotiations in the American cultural institutions
 

Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi emphasized the significance of 'Extremely Hungary 2009' and its possibilities in cultural and public diplomacy
 

HCC Director László Jakab Orsós introduced 'Extremely Hungary 2009' to the press as the greatest Hungarian cultural undertaking abroad ever
 

Susan Vita, Chief of Music Division of the Library of Congress, said participating in 'Extremely Hungary 2009' was a historic moment for the Library

 

The concert of György Kurtág, Márta Kurtág, and the Keller Quartet took place in the 500-seat Coolidge Auditorium of the Library of Congress, where, incidentally, Béla Bartók performed his 2nd Sonata for Violin and Piano with Violinist József Szigeti in April, 1940, and included the following pieces:

 

1. Bartók: Canon at the lower fifth (Mikrokosmos, Book I)

 

2. Bach: Das alte Jahr vergangen ist, BWV 614

 

3. Kurtág: Játékok (excerpts) and Bach transcriptions

     Hommage à Reinbert de Leeuw

     Consolation sereine - to Renee Jonker

     Versetto (Apocryphal Organum)

     Knots

     Antiphony in F-sharp

     An apocryphal hymn (In the style of Alfred Schnittke) - to Judit Frigyesi

     In memoriam András Mihály

     Gott, durch deine Güte, BWV 600 - to Tamás Várkonyi

     Dirge

     Melody (1947)

     Fugitive thoughts about the Alberti bass - to András Szőllősy

     Hommage à M. K.

     Merran's dream - Caliban detecting-rebuilding Miranda's dream

     Study to Pilinszky's Hölderlin

     Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit: Sonatina, BWV 106 (Actus tragicus)

 

Intermission

 

4. Kurtág: Hommage à Bartók (World Premiere)

     Adieu, Haydée I & II

     Herr Christ, der ein'ge Gottessohn

     Mártának

 

5. Kurtág: 6 Moments Musicaux, op. 44

 

6. Bartók: String Quartet No. 5 in B-flat Major, BB 110

 

 

György and Márta Kurtág performing pieces from his 'Játékok'
 

Márta Kurtág performing pieces from her husband's 'Hommage à Bartók'
 

The Keller Quartet performing the String Quartet No. 5 by Bartók: András Keller (Violin), János Pilz (Violin), Zoltán Gál (Viola), Judit Szabó (Cello)

 

Moments after its world premiere, György Kurtág solemnly presented the manuscript of his 'Hommage à Bartók' piece, commissioned by the Library of Congress for this special occassion. The music will be on display in the Library as the sole proprietor of the composition.

 

 

Chief of the Music Division Susan Vita accepting the manuscript of 'Hommage à Bartók', moments after the concert by György and Márta Kurtág

 

The concert was followed by a reception in the exclusive Members Room of the Library of Congress, where Minister István Hiller presented Maestro György Kurtág the 'Global Ambassador of Hungarian Culture' award.

 

 

György and Márta Kurtág, HCC Washington, DC Program Director Krisztina Danka, Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi, Minister István Hiller, HCC Director László Jakab Orsós, Chief of the Music Division Susan Vita
 

György Kurtág accepting the 'Global Ambassador of Hungarian Culture' award with (from left to right) Chief of the Music Division Susan Vita, Hungarian Minister of Education and Culture István Hiller, and Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi

 

Concert and reception photos courtesy of MTI and HCC

 

 

* * *

 

The folk/etno/world music concert by Hungarian Singer Bea Palya and Hungarian Musician Balázs 'Dongó' Szokolay on Sunday, February 8, 6pm took place on the Millenium Stage of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. She sang songs of Hungarian, Gypsy and international origin, accompanied by wind instrumentalist Balázs ‘Dongó’ Szokolay on bagpipe, flute, clarinet, and Jew’s harp.

 

 

(first row) Minister István Hiller, Mrs. Hiller, Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi, (second row)Interpreter André Balogh, Director Éva Lauter, New York Consul-General Viktor Polgár, HCC Washington, DC Director Krisztina Danka, Maestro György Kurtág, BMC Music Producer László Gőz
 

Hungarian folk/etno singer Bea Palya performed songs accompanied by wind instrumentalist Balázs 'Dongó' Szokolay on bagpipe, flute, clarinet, and Jew's harp
 

Hungarian folk/etno singer Bea Palya performed songs of Hungarian, Gypsy, and international origin
 

Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi, Minister István Hiller, Kennedy Center Vice President Ann Stock, Maestro György Kurtág  

 

Rector of the Ferenc Liszt Music Academy András Batta, Bea Palya, and Balázs 'Dongó' Szokolay

 

Concert photos courtesy of MTI and HCC