Only a few seats remain in the Grand Hall of the Liszt Academy for the special concert of the MÁV Symphony Orchestra and Gilles Apap, titled From Classical to Swing, taking place on May 14, 2026, at 7:00 PM.
Gilles Apap is one of the most exciting violinists of our time — a performer who combines the tradition of classical music with the spontaneity of folk music, improvisation, and the liberated rhythms of world music with unmatched naturalness. Yehudi Menuhin called him “the true violinist of the 21st century,” and his artistry is indeed at once virtuosic, witty, and boundary-breaking.
In the first half of the concert, the audience will hear Kreisler’s legendary Präludium & Allegro, followed by Mozart’s Violin Concerto in G major, performed with Gilles Apap’s own cadenzas. Even in this work, one of Apap’s most remarkable qualities becomes evident: the way he subtly and naturally incorporates improvisation and folk music into the classical repertoire.
After the intermission, an even freer and more colorful musical journey begins: Irish jigs and polkas, French manouche-inspired moods, and virtuoso swing and bluegrass arrangements follow one another with irresistible momentum, evoking both the elegance of the concert hall and the joy of spontaneous music-making. Alongside his own compositions and arrangements, legendary melodies by Bill Monroe will also be performed in unique orchestrations.
Biography:
Gilles Apap was born in Algeria in 1963. He studied in Nice and Lyon before being admitted to the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music. His talent was recognized by Yehudi Menuhin, with whom he collaborated on a documentary film about Mozart’s violin concertos. Over the past decades, Gilles Apap has performed with ensembles such as the Boston Philharmonic, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, and the orchestra of Berlin’s Komische Oper. His first ensemble, The Transylvanian Mountain Boys, attracted considerable attention in the classical music world with its debut album in 1996. Gilles Apap has recorded numerous albums, many of them released under his own label, Apapaziz Productions. As a teacher and mentor, he encourages young musicians to embrace cultural openness, improvisational freedom, and artistic diversity.
This evening promises an extraordinary encounter with a remarkable artist who, both as a soloist and conductor, repeatedly proves that music is truly a shared, universal language. Those who would still like to be part of this exceptional experience are advised to secure their seats as soon as possible.
