April 14, 2007

 

Embassy Hosts Classical Concert in Tribute to Miklós Rózsa

"It's Not Enough to Be Hungarian, You Must Also Have Talent..."

 

The Embassy hosted a very special event: a concert of commemoration of the birth of Hungarian-born composer Miklós Rózsa. He won the Academy Award in 1945 for his score for Hitchcock's Spellbound (still his most popular work), again in 1947 for A Double Life, and for a third time in 1959 for Ben-Hur, but his classical works do not get the attention they deserve. Rózsa wrote works for some of the greatest instrumentalists of the twentieth century, such as Jascha Heifetz, János Starker, Pinchas Zukerman, and Gregor Piatigorsky. His classical works were performed by some of the greatest conductors and orchestras of the age.
 

Ambassador Simonyi greeting the guests

    
Ambassador Simonyi greeted the special guests, Mr. János Starker, the Hungarian-born Grammy Award Winner cellist, Ibolya Dávid, Chairman, Hungarian Democratic Forum, András Simor, Governor of the Central Bank of Hungary, Miklós Tátrai, State Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Juliet Rózsa, daughter of Miklós Rózsa, as well as Steve Vertlieb, award winning writer, film historian, critic and poet. After introducing the trio, violinist Anastasia Khitruk, cellist Emilio Colón (a student of Starker's), and pianist Mr. Nariaki Sugiura, he emphasized the importance of Rózsa's contribution to contemporary classical music.
 

Writer and critic Steve Vertlieb and renowned cellist János Starker (courtesy of Steve Vertlieb)

 

Grammy Award winner János Starker

 

Steve Vertlieb with Miklós Rózsa's daughter, Juliet (courtesy of Steve Vertlieb)

János Starker evoked some common memories with his near friend, Miklós Rózsa in anecdotic style. The saying "it's not enough to be Hungarian, you must also have talent" is also attributed to Rózsa.
 

Anastasia Khitruk and Emilio Colón

 

 

Anastasia Khitruk leaving the stage after the successful concert, with Ambassador Simonyi in the background (courtesy of Steve Vertlieb)

 

 

The trio played three masterpieces by Rózsa and also two short musical themes by Kodály and Bartók, evoking a celebration by the audience.

 

A wine and cheese reception followed the gorgeous concert.

 

 

An article by Steve Vertlieb published on "Soundtrack Collector" online magazine on the concert can be accessed by clicking on the following link:

http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/viewarticle.php?articleid=1294