A special musical event is promised on May 29, 2026, in the Grand Hall of the Liszt Academy, where the MÁV Symphony Orchestra will present a concert featuring one of Hungary’s most distinguished musical families: pianists Dezső Ránki, Edit Klukon, and Fülöp Ránki performing together on stage. The concert will be conducted by Gábor Takács-Nagy, permanent guest conductor of the MÁV Symphony Orchestra, whose sensitive musicianship and international experience make him an ideal leader for this unique program.
The evening’s program reveals a remarkable side of Johann Sebastian Bach’s music: works by the Baroque master will be heard in the richly romantic orchestrations of Leopold Stokowski and Leó Weiner. These arrangements do not aim for historically informed performance practice; instead, they emphasize the dramatic, emotional, and symphonic power of Bach’s music. The grand orchestral version of the famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor, the monumental architecture of the Passacaglia in C minor, and the almost cinematic atmosphere of the Chaconne in D minor all promise an extraordinary listening experience.
In the second half of the concert, Bach’s two concertos for three pianos and orchestra will be performed — works that are at once dazzlingly virtuosic and masterpieces of chamber music. The dialogue between the three soloists, their playful musical rivalry, and their perfect unity create a rare experience on the concert stage. The driving energy of the Concerto in D minor and the festive brilliance of the Concerto in C major provide a compelling contrast to one another.
The Ránki family’s joint appearance is in itself an exceptional occasion. Dezső Ránki and Edit Klukon have for decades been leading figures of Hungarian and international concert life, while their son, Fülöp Ránki, is one of the most exciting young pianists of today. In their shared music-making, familial harmony and outstanding artistic quality form a unique and inseparable unity.
This concert celebrates the timeless genius of Bach while also demonstrating how his music continues to live on through the perspectives of different arrangers and performers. It is a rare occasion that offers historical insight, virtuoso performance, and an unforgettable musical experience for the audience alike.
Program:
J. S. Bach – Stokowski: Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
J. S. Bach – Stokowski: Mein Jesu, was für Seelenweh, BWV 487
J. S. Bach – Stokowski: Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582
J. S. Bach – Stokowski: Chaconne in D minor, BWV 1004
J. S. Bach – Weiner: Andante
J. S. Bach: Concerto in D minor for Three Pianos and Orchestra, BWV 1063
J. S. Bach: Concerto in C major for Three Pianos and Orchestra, BWV 1064
All tickets for the concert have been sold out.
