I am about to embark on a month devoted entirely to symphonic music in two countries that I love very much, Spain and Hungary. I’m starting in the latter where, on 5th March, I’m conducting the HRSO in a programme redolent of vehement classicism and romantic depth, combining the overture from Rossini’s Guglielmo Tell, the Weber Clarinet concerto no. 1 in F minor (soloist János Szepes) and the Schubert Symphony no. 9 in C major “The Great”, letting the gilded auditorium of the Liszt Academy, full of history and memories of the 1800s, resound with pieces that are distinctly representative of important early 19th century musical turning points. And at the end of the month, at the Müpa, again with the Hungarian orchestra joined by the women’s and children’s choirs and mezzosoprano Dorottya Láng, we will reach another summit in the series that began in 2024 with Mahler’s Symphony no. 2, followed by the Fifth and the Eighth, as we perform his Symphony no. 3 on 31st March. It is an immense score in terms of length and content, which has given us a completely new perspective on the idea of nature and its relationship with man, ever since its first performance in 1902 at the beginning of the “short twentieth century”. The monumental nature of Mahler’s Third Symphony (six movements, lasting over an hour and a half) is evident, but studying the individual movements, starting with the first, which lasts for over thirty minutes, almost a Symphony within the Symphony, reveals languages that are markedly different yet united, if not by subtle thematic references, by the “tone” which Mahler imposed on this prodigious work. I am full of pride to be tackling Mahler’s Third with the HRSO, which has such a distinctive sound, deeply rooted in a performance tradition that has allowed such a small country as Hungary to turn out many of the greatest 20th century conductors, making me realise, after six years at the helm of this orchestra, first as chief and then honorary conductor, that with the Hungarian ensembles there is a truly mutual artistic and cultural exchange.

📷 Posztós János