Beethovenfest

Zoltan Kodaly searched for the roots of gypsy music he heard as a child and made the material his own. The Dohnanyi Orchestra Budafok presents Kodaly's work alongside the folk music that inspired it.Zoltan Kodaly Dances of Galánta, version with original folk music Dohnanyi Orchestra Budafok Conductor: Gabor Hollerung MP3 recorded at the University of Bonn on October 3, 2011 by Deutsche Welle (DW) Today, Galanta is a town in Slovakia whose architecture bears the marks of war and the Soviet...

Listen in as the brass section shines in this excerpt from Richard Wagner's "Twilight of the Gods" that sweeps along the waters of the Rhine River.Richard Wagner "Sunrise" and "Siegfried's Rhine Journey"from the opera "Twilight of the Gods" Dohnanyi Orchestra Budafok Conductor: Gabor Hollerung MP3 recorded at the University of Bonn on October 3, 2011 by Deutsche Welle (DW) Wagner appears alongside the likes of Liszt, Dohnanyi and Kodaly in a program of Hungarian music for a straightforward...

A tribute to European unity in this concert, where pianist Jeno Jando delivers a performance full of contrasts and surprises in 'Variations on a Children's Song' by Erno Dohnanyi.Erno Dohnanyi Variations on a children's song for piano and orchestra, op. 25 Jeno Jando, piano Dohnanyi Orchestra Budafok Conductor: Gabor Hollerung MP3 recorded at the University of Bonn on October 3, 2011 by Deutsche Welle (DW) The 2011 Beethovenfest celebrated Franz Liszt and the music of Hungary, the...

The Roma and Sinti Philharmonic under Roma conductor Riccardo Sahiti bring the joys and struggles of the gypsy Carmen to life as her story builds to its tragic end.Rodion Shchedrin Carmen Suite after Georges Bizet for strings and percussion Roma and Sinti Philharmonic Conductor: Riccardo M. Sahiti MP3 recorded in the Beethoven Hall, Bonn, on September 24, 2011 by West German Radio, Cologne (WDR) Roma conductor Riccardo M. Sahiti has one special goal: bringing his people's music and culture...

Franz Liszt recreates the legend of Mazeppa in this symphonic poem as it brings the listener along for its hero's tormented journey through the wilderness and toward redemption.Franz Liszt Mazeppa. Symphonic Poem No. 6 Dohnanyi Orchestra Budafok Conductor: Gabor Hollerung MP3 recorded at the University of Bonn on October 1, 2011 by Deutsche Welle (DW) To celebrate German Unity Day on October 3 and Hungary's historic role in the process of German reunification, Budapest's Dohnanyi Orchestra...

Fanfare Ciocarlia have one goal: to get even the stodgiest grandmas out of their seats and dancing. The wind ensemble almost managed that during their concert at the Beethovenfest's "Liszt Night."anon: Arrangement of the folk song "Suita a la Ciobanas" Fanfare Ciocărlia MP3 recorded on September 24, 2011 in the Beethoven Hall, Bonn by West German Radio (WDR) The twelve members of Fanfare Ciocarlia come from a tiny village in Moldavia, home to around 80 Roma families and 400 people total....

The Roma and Sinti Philharmonic celebrate gypsy tradition and folklore here in their purest form.anon: Improvised Roma and Sinti folk music Roma and Sinti Philharmonic Conductor: Riccardo M. Sahiti MP3 recorded in the Beethoven Hall, Bonn, on September 24, 2011 by West German Radio, Cologne (WDR) September 24, 2011 turned into a long night for the Roma and Sinti Philharmonic. This special project formed of professional musicians of Roma and Sinti heritage gave two concerts nearly back to...

Violin virtuoso Geza Hosszu-Legocky and cellist Rodin Moldovan with Johan Halvorsen's passacaglia on a theme by Handel.Johan Halvorsen Passacaglia for violin and cello after George Frideric Handel Geza Hosszu-Legocky, violin Rodin Moldovan, cello MP3 recorded in the Beethoven Hall, Bonn, on September 24, 2011 by West German Radio, Cologne (WDR) The Roma and Sinti Philharmonic draws musicians of Roma and Sinti heritage from across Europe together to celebrate their culture's influence on...

Mihaela Ursuleasa plays a dizzying and enchanting toccata by Romanian composer Paul Constantinescu.Paul Constantinescu Toccata Mihaela Ursuleasa, piano Roma and Sinti Philharmonic Conductor: Riccardo M. Sahiti MP3 recorded in the Beethoven Hall, Bonn, on September 24, 2011 by West German Radio, Cologne (WDR) Encore pieces reveal much of the mood of the moment. Such is the case with this one. After Mihaela Ursuleasa's performance of Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Roma and Sinti...

American composer Steve Reich, a founding father of minimal music, performed in Bonn two weeks before his 75th birthday.Steve Reich Drumming - Part One for four pairs of tuned bongo drums Steve Reich, percussion Ensemble Modern MP3 recorded in the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany, Bonn, on September 21, 2011 by Deutsche Welle (DW) Steve Reich is a cult figure. Raised and trained in the European music tradition, his influences extend to African and Indonesian music...

Whatever doubts conductor Riccardo Sahiti had about his Roma and Sinti Philharmonic were laid to rest during this concert. He praised the violin and double bass soloists here as being at the top of their field.Giovanni Bottesini Grand Duo concertante for double bass, violin and orchestra Roman Patkoló, double bass Géza Hosszu-Legocky, violin Roma and Sinti Philharmonic Conductor: Riccardo M. Sahiti MP3 recorded in the Beethoven Hall, Bonn, on September 24, 2011 by West German Radio,...

Franz Liszt paid homage to gypsy music in his Hungarian Rhapsodies, infusing them with his own creative energy. It's an approach the Roma and Sinti Philharmonic shares, rendering classics with an eye to the future.Franz Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 for orchestra, S 359/2 (orchestral version by Karl Müller-Berghaus) Roma and Sinti Philharmonic Conductor: Riccardo M. Sahiti MP3 recorded in the Beethoven Hall, Bonn, on September 24, 2011 by West German Radio, Cologne (WDR) Like another work...

Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 is meant to dazzle, and pianist Mihaela Ursuleasa does just that when joined by the Roma and Sinti Philharmonic.Franz Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major Mihaela Ursuleasa, piano Roma and Sinti Philharmonic Conductor: Riccardo M. Sahiti MP3 recorded in the Beethoven Hall, Bonn, on September 24, 2011 by West German Radio, Cologne (WDR) Early sketches of Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 date back to 1830, when the composer was nineteen years old. But Liszt...

Camille Saint-Saens wrote his Introduction and rondo capriccioso for a violin prodigy with fire in his fingers. It's a work that's meant to put on a show, and Geza Hosszu-Legocky's Beethovenfest performance shows how.Camille Saint-Saëns Introduction and rondo capriccioso for violin and orchestra, op. 28 Géza Hosszu-Legocky, violin Roma and Sinti Philharmonic Conductor: Riccardo M. Sahiti MP3 recorded in the Beethoven Hall, Bonn, on September 24, 2011 by West German Radio, Cologne (WDR)...

Franz Liszt takes the listener to the heart of the Faust legend in this waltz. Out to show Faust a good time, the Devil, Mephistopheles, grabs a fiddle and begins to play…Franz Liszt Mephisto Waltz No. 1 for orchestra ("The Dance in the Village Inn") Roma and Sinti Philharmonic Conductor: Riccardo M. Sahiti MP3 recorded in the Beethoven Hall, Bonn, on September 24, 2011 by West German Radio, Cologne (WDR) Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and his version of the Faust legend inspired Franz Liszt...

The symphonic works of Schumann look into the future. Conductor Paavo Järvi cites their 'inner power' and 'somewhat neurotic language.'Robert Schumann Ouverture, Scherzo and Finale in E Major, op. 52 Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen Conductor: Paavo Järvi MP3 recorded in the Beethoven Hall, Bonn, on September 23, 2011 by Deutsche Welle (DW) 1841 is usually described as the symphonic year in Robert Schumann's life. Writing orchestral music came at urging of his wife, Clara, but the composer...

'Music for 18 Musicians' exerts a subliminal, irresistible pull. The work by the legendary American composer Steve Reich was performed in Bonn by the composer himself in tandem with the Ensemble Modern.Steve Reich Music for 18 Musicians Steve Reich, piano Synergy Vocals Ensemble Modern MP3 recorded in the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany on September 21, 2011 by Deutsche Welle (DW) Steve Reich's performance in Bonn was during the Beethovenfest 2011, so it was only...