Hungrian Gems

Experience the vibrant pulse of Hungary’s musical soul captured on film in “Hungarian Gems.” The Budapest Concerto Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Kossuth Prize‑winning violinist and conductor Kristóf Baráti, opens the evening with László Dubrovay’s newly published 2025 work “Laudate… for Solo Instrument and Strings.” Flutist Orsolya Kaczander delivers the soaring solo lines, blending Hungarian tradition with cutting‑edge audio research and modern techniques. Next, the orchestra revisits the iconic “Spellbound Concerto” by Miklós Rózsa, the composer of the Oscar‑winning score for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1945 film *Spellbound*. In this 1946 concerto, pianist Valentin Magyar takes the single‑instrument spotlight, weaving Hollywood’s golden‑age orchestral grandeur with the tense drama of the original score. The program concludes with Béla Bartók’s revolutionary ballet *The Miraculous Mandarin*, first premiered a century ago. Celebrated for its daring dissonance and exploration of carnal love, this work stands as one of Bartók’s most misunderstood masterpieces—a bold statement in a time when it ran head‑long into the era’s musical conventions. Join us on the silver screen to witness this spectacular convergence of Hungarian artistry, historic virtuosity, and unforgettable compositions that continue to echo through the ages.