The Russian Music Festival will be held for the seventh time in three cities and five venues, under the artistic direction of pianist Marcell Szabó. The theme of this year’s festival is “Friendships”, which will give an insight into the personal lives of great Russian composers and the sources of their inspiration. These friendships were not only human relationships, but also sources of artistic dialogue and mutual motivation. The varied program includes a distinguished line-up of artists, an evening concert, a family program and an exhibition.
Rachmaninoff and Medtner mutually dedicated a piano concerto to each other. According to legend, Tchaikovsky and Saint-Saëns danced together in Moscow. At the same time, Tchaikovsky’s relationship with the Russian Five reveals the complexity of forging the musical identity of an entire nation, while the complex relationship between Stravinsky, Ravel and Debussy shows the cavalcade of the musical revolution of the early 20th century. These friendships were not only significant on a personal level but often influenced the development and evolution of universal musical styles and techniques, as music is not only a language without words, but also a bridge between different cultures and people.
“Our festival, which lasts more than 10 days, will give audiences (and us, the performers) the opportunity to discover how these relationships have shaped the history of music around the world. These friendships are not just historical curiosities, but the cornerstones of our artistic heritage. Each of our concerts will showcase one of these friendships: we will tell the story of the composers’ relationships not only through sound, but also orally, through short stories and correspondence, to get to know the geniuses behind the sounds. These stories will shed new light on well-known (or less well-known) works and perhaps reveal previously hidden connections. Join us on this musical voyage of discovery, where we will also discover the stories of human relationships and friendships behind the sounds.” (Marcell Szabó, artistic director)
As in previous years, the festival will be held in three cities: In Budapest, Debrecen and Tihany, where several wonderful spaces will host the programs, such as the Benedictine Abbey in Tihany, the Cathedral of St. Anne in Debrecen, the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows in Budapest, but there will also be events in the Russian Cultural Centre and the Liszt Hall of the University of Debrecen.
PROGRAM
The (anti) Friendship between Tchaikovsky and the Russian Five
Date and venue:
29 March 2025 – Saturday – 19:00, St. Anne’s Cathedral
Program:
Tchaikovsky-Mészáros: Swan Lake, op. 20a – Scene and Waltz
The Nutcracker, op. 71a – Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Kyui: Prelude in G minor
Kyui: Prelude in A flat major
Musorgsky-Mészáros: Pictures at an exhibition
Performer:
Zsolt Máté Mészáros – organ
Balalaika in the Russian landscapes – Romanichev duo concert
Date and venue:
24 March 2025 – Monday – 19:00, St. Anne’s Cathedral
Program:
Selection of Russian folk and classical music
Performers:
Mikhail Romanichev-balalayka
Fyodor Romanichev – piano
The friendship between Tchaikovsky and Saint-Saens
Date and location:
25 March 2025 – Tuesday – 19:00, University of Debrecen, Faculty of Music – Liszt Hall
Program:
Tchaikovsky-Langer: Swan Lake – details
Saint-Saens: Duettino op.11
Saint-Saens: Dance of Death op.40
Saint Saens: Berceuse op.105
Tchaikovsky-Langer: Nutcracker – excerpts
Performers:
Ádám Balogh, Marcell Szabó- piano
The friendship between Rachmaninoff and Medtner
Date and place:
26 March 2025 – Wednesday – 19:00, St. Anne’s Cathedral
Program:
Rachmaninov: Cello and Piano Sonata in G minor op.19
Medtner: Forgotten Melodies op.38
Performers:
Ádám Balogh, Marcell Szabó – piano
Barnabás Baranyai – cello
More information at https://ozf.hu and tickets at https://ozf.jegy.hu.
