From January 2021, the artists of the Opera Chorus and Orchestra show their talent on Monday evenings from 8:00 p.m on Facebook and Origo.hu. On 11 January 2021, in the first stream of the New Year, the Chorus presented a French programme whereas the Orchestra performed baroque pieces and as well as a rarity by a Hungarian composer from the turn of the previous century.
It is still The Muse of France Season, and the Opera Chorus chose works by French composers for their programme. An excerpt by Belgian-French César Franck (1822–1890) had already been performed in a previous show, now another sacred piece, Quare fremuerunt gentes composed for the feast of St Clothilde was presented by Eszter Magyari, András Takács, Attila Fenyvesi and Attila Búra (vocals), Péter Balás (double bass) and Krisztina Andrássy-Neuenstein (organ) conducted by Gábor Csiki. It was followed by a selection from works by one of the most influential French composers, Hector Berlioz (1803–1869). Canon libre à la quinte, and two ballads, Hélène and La mort d'Ophélie were performed by Eszter Magyari and Zsuzsanna Mizsei-Takács accompanied by Krisztina Andrássy-Neuenstein on the piano.
The Opera Orchestra takes viewers on exciting musical journeys in 2021 as well. In the 11 January programme, beside popular pieces, they also presented gems by lesser-known composers. Emánuel Moór (1863–1931), born in Kecskemét, Hungary, toured Europe as a young pianist and he even ventured as far afield as the United States. He composed a number of operas, symphonies and concertos, but he is also known as the inventor of a special instrument, the so-called Pleyel-Moór Pianoforte. His Suite for Three Violins (Movements 1 & 2) was interpreted by Patrícia Fahidi, Károly Gál and Enikő Tury. The compositions of German violinist Johann Friedrich Fasch (1688–1758) were widely played in his time, and he was held in high regard by contemporaries, Telemann and Bach. His Sonata in F Major for Two Oboes and Two Bassoons was performed by Fruzsina Káli-Fonyódi, Nóra Baráth (oboe), Judit Polonkai, József Bánfi (bassoon). The orchestra members also selected excerpts by a French composer. The movements No. 1 Menuett, No. 4 Danse des Sauvages, No. 5 Air and No. 6 Tambourin from Les Indes galantes by Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683–1764) were performed by a viola quartet including Mátyás Török, Attila Lukács, Csaba Babácsi and Attila Kovács.
The performance can be viewed HERE.
Photo by Attila Nagy