The 1 February 2021 Terzet-Trio show awaited online viewers with real gems from Breton songs through adaptations of popular pieces to contemporary compositions. The performance was streamed from 8:00 p.m. on Facebook and Origo.hu.
For their programme, the Opera Chorus chose songs by two musicians who also made a career as opera singers. Venezuela-born French composer Reynaldo Hahn (1874–1947) gave his first public performance as a singer in the drawing room of Napoleon's niece at the age of six. Two years later he also started his compositions studies. He wrote numerous stage and orchestral works, but he is most renowned for his songs, of which he composed over a hundred. Excerpts from Chansons et madrigaux were performed by Gabriella Érdi, Sylvia Szőnyi, József Csobolya and Tamás Pekárdy accompanied on the piano by Krisztina Andrássy-Neuenstein, conducted by Katalin Balogh. English dramatic soprano Liza Lehmann (1862–1918) was encouraged by such personalities as Clara Schumann. After a decade of concerts she turned to compositions focusing on vocal works and she wrote several popular song cycles. Four pieces from Breton Folk-Songs were interpreted by Mária Tempfli, Dorottya Győrffy, Zsombor Haraszti and Géza Zsigmond with Krisztina Andrássy-Neuenstein on the piano, conducted by Gábor Csiki.
Members of the Opera Orchestra often present transcriptions. Goldberg Variations (BWV 988) by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) is the height of Baroque variation technique. Aria and five variations adapted by Federico Sarudiansky were performed by Katalin Fenyő (violin), Attila Lukács (viola) and Tibor Zacher-Wambach (cello). The programme also featured a medley of cheerful and dynamic tunes. Copenhagen Steam Railway Galop by Hans Christian Lumbye (1810–1874), Annen-Polka by Johann Strauss II (1825–1899) as well as two excerpts, Waltz and Mephisto's Rondo from Faust by Charles Gounod (1818–1893) were performed in a transcription by trumpeter Csaba Nagy by János Rácz (flute), Ottó Rácz (Oboe), Beáta Várnai (clarinet), Judit Polonkai (bassoon), Tibor Király, Csaba Nagy (trumpet), Gábor Tóth, Tamás Gáspár (horn), Sándor Szabó, Gábor Adamik (trombone) and Zoltán Vámosi (percussion). Composer, pianist and conductor István Dénes (b. 1954) has been an indispensable member of the Opera since 1977. It was he who reconceived and orchestrated John the Valiant in 1987. His piece entitled Fugue for Four Timpani was performed by Ádám Maros and Attila Csige.
The performance can be viewed HERE.
Photo by Attila Nagy