Zoltán Kocsis and the Liszt Academy Symphony Orchestra A Zeneakadémia saját szervezésű programja

After many years of preparation, in 1875, 140 years ago, the Liszt Academy opened (at that time it did not have its own building): teaching was conducted in a Danube-side apartment leased to Liszt. In the course of its near century-and-a-half history the institution grew ever larger, not merely in size (to begin with there were 35 students, today the roll numbers some 800) but importance as well: it is possible to state without exaggeration that the Academy has left an indelible imprint on 20th century music history and concert life. On the occasion of the 140th birthday of the institute, the ‘house’ symphony orchestra formed from students will play works by four of the most influential professors under the baton of Zoltán Kocsis and with violinist Barnabás Kelemen. After Liszt’s dramatic symphonic poem Mazeppa Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 1 (1908) is performed; it was composed as an expression of the love Bartók had for Liszt Academy student Stefi Geyer (the piece was only published in 1959). This is followed by former Liszt Academy director Dohnányi’s extremely witty symphonic work demanding great virtuosity, Symphonic Minutes, and one of the great moments of Kodály’s instrumental oeuvre, The Peacock variations combining 20th century modern music trends with traditions of archaic Hungarian folk music.