ONE of Hungary’s leading orchestras, the Concerto Budapest Symphony Orchestra, will come to The Anvil for the first time in June,

They will head to Basingstoke on Wednesday, June 8, conducted by its artistic director and chief conductor András Keller.

With its rich history and the dynamism of its young musicians, the orchestra is one of the most progressive and versatile performing around the world today.

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The programme begins with Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra, perhaps the composer’s most approachable work, which is filled with musical colour and bursting with ideas. It builds steadily through its five movements to an exultant conclusion.

Founded in 1907 as the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra, Concerto Budapest adopted its present name a century later. András Keller, who began his tenure as Artistic Director and Chief Conductor during the orchestra’s centenary year, has built on its historic legacy while attracting many of Hungary’s foremost young chamber music players to its ranks.

Concerto Budapest’s first visit to the UK follows the orchestra’s extensive tours of East Asia in 2017 and 2019 and its critically acclaimed debut at the Folle journée festival in Nantes two years ago.

Keller said: “My idea in symphonic music is to have 70-80 people playing chamber music with each other and singing together like a polyphonic choir.

“I believe that all instrumental music is a kind of transformation of human singing. When we make an instrument ‘sing’, then usually anyone hearing this is imbued with a sense of happiness. The unique marvel of the symphony orchestra lies in the fact that the sound of very many different instruments is capable of giving unbelievable tones, nuances and characters to a musical melody, yet all these different sounds are capable of becoming one, and many musicians are able to feel as a single soul, to love with a common heart, to live the melody. “

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The orchestra is then joined by the ever-popular Angela Hewitt, whose expressive and intricate playing has made her one of the world’s leading pianists, as she performs Mozart’s sublime piano concerto. It was one of three he composed while working on The Marriage of Figaro.

The evening ends with what is possibly the most well-known pieces of classical music, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. From the most famous opening in music, it builds steadily through its four movements from dramatic struggle to a blazing, triumphant conclusion.

Contact the Anvil Arts box office on 01256 844244 or visit anvilarts.org.uk.

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