October 15, 2006

1956 Anniversary Gala Concert at Carnegie Hall

New York City’s Carnegie Hall hosted a Gala Memorial Concert commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution organized by the Hungarian Consulate General in New York and the New York Area Coordinating Committee for the 1956 Commemorations.

Ambassador Simonyi with Governor Pataki and his daughter, Emily Pataki

The Hungarian-born Governor of New York, George Pataki opened the Gala. Ambassador of Hungary András Simonyi read the greetings of His Excellency László Sólyom, President of Hungary. Hungarian Members of Parliament, Zsolt Németh, President, and  Vilmos Szabó, Vice-President of the Committee on Foreign Relations, were present.

Governor of New York George Pataki addressing the commemoration

The performing artists included the Takács Quartet, Péter Frankl (piano), Viktória Vizin, (mezzo-soprano), András Molnár (tenor) and Yale Philharmonia Orchestra with conductor Shinik Hahm. The musicians played works by Liszt, Erkel, Bartók, Kodály and Berlioz.

Ambassador Simonyi in Carnegie Hall

The program included a world premiere: “Path of the Extraordinary,” a symphonic poem by young Hungarian composer Ádám Balázs was commissioned for the occasion.

Ambassador Simonyi and Zsolt Németh, President of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations at the Consulate General

The concert was preceded by a Memorial Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Following the gala concert, the Hungarian Consulate in New York hosted a reception.

Hungary's Permanent Representative to the UN Gábor Bródi, MP Zsolt Németh, composer Ádám Balázs,  Ambassador Simonyi, Consul Gábor Földvári with Hungarian Americans