In the final Terzet-Trio-Trois of 2020, the ensembles of the Hungarian State Opera rang out the old with pieces in which they could highlight their virtuoso talents. Viewers of the stream enjoyed vocal works by Brahms, compositions by Baroque and contemporary composers, and classical choreographies from 8:00 p.m. on 18 December 2020, on Facebook and Origo.hu.
Artists of the Opera Chorus dedicated their evening to vocal works by Johannes Brahms (1833–1897). Although being a composer of the Romantic period, his music is firmly rooted in the structures and compositional techniques of the Classical masters. In his significant oeuvre, beside his compositions for orchestra, piano and organ, there are also a number or vocal pieces and songs. In the programme, all three of Three Quartets, Op. 64 (An die Heimat, Der Abend and Fragen) as well as a selection from Six Quartets, Op. 112 (Sehnsucht, Nächtens, Brennessel steht an Weges Rand, and Liebe Schwalbe, kleine Schwalbe) could be heard performed by Rebeka-Asztrid Mitrasca, Júlia Magassy, Balázs Somogyi and Norbert Aronescu accompanied by Éva Leszkovszki-Tóth on the piano. Musical director: Dániel Erdélyi.
Musicians of the Opera Orchestra demonstrated their talent in Baroque music and compositions of the 20th and 21st century pieces. The French composer Jacques Aubert (1689–1753) began his career as violinist in the service of such great personalities as the Prince Condé, later he went on to be first violinist of the Paris Opera. He composed stage works like operas and ballets as well as instrumental pieces. The movements 3. (Gavotte) és 5. (Tambourin) from his Suite No. 1, Op. 15. were performed by violinists Patrícia Fahidi and Dóra Hargitai. The American composer and pianist George Gershwin (1898–1937) made a name by his efforts of combining classical music with jazz. His opus Three Preludes adapted for brass instruments was performed by Tibor Király, Balázs Winkler (trumpet), Gábor Tóth (French horn), Tibor Ujj (trombone) and Bálint Keresztesi (tuba). Works by the German composer and trumpet player Markus Stockhausen (b. 1957) are also characteristic of jazz elements. He composed Five Pieces for Trumpet and Vibraphone on invitation by the International Trumpet Guild in 2010, which was interpreted by Bence Horváth (trumpet) and Ádám Maros (vibraphone).
The Hungarian National Ballet and Ballet Institute presented viewers with three wonderful excerpts. Pas de Trois (choreography by Kornélia Mráz) from Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893) was performed by talented ballet students Franciska Yuki Bonecz, Lukács Márton Kiss and Laura Berki. Albert Mirzoyan's choreography to uplifting music from the operas Jérusalem and I vespri siciliani by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) was danced by ballet dancer Yuki Wakabayashi and principal Gergő Ármin Balázsi. Paquita is a work by Joseph Mazilier (1801–1868), ballet master of the Paris Opera, first shown in 1846 to music by Édouard Deldevez (1817–1897). Later versions were complemented with additional composition by Ludwig Minkus (1826–1917). An excerpt from Act 3 staged by Irinia Prokofieva was performed with solos by grand sujet Yourim Lee, principal Gergely Leblanc, corps de ballet Miyu Takamori and semi-soloist Olga Chernakova, and featuring ballet dancers Anastasiia Konstantinova, Isabela Palmero, Aglaja Sawatzki, Yuliya Golovyna, Dóra Szelényi, Adrienn Horányi, Annamaria Voltolini and Marianne Allen.
The performance can be viewed HERE.
Photo by Valter Berecz