The MÁV Symphony Orchestra’s traditional All Souls’ Day Memorial Concert will fill the magnificent Grand Hall of the Liszt Academy with music of remembrance and consolation. Through two profoundly moving yet uplifting masterpieces, the evening will explore themes of loss, healing and hope.
The concert opens with Ralph Vaughan Williams’ iconic Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis. Based on a 16th-century English Renaissance melody, this remarkable work for string orchestra creates an ethereal atmosphere through its spatial sound effects and meditative musical passages. The musical heritage of past centuries and the emotional sensibilities of the modern age come together in perfect harmony. The composition is like a cathedral: meticulously constructed, airy and majestic. It reflects the past while inviting us to immerse ourselves in the present moment.
The centrepiece of the evening is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s final, unfinished masterpiece, the Requiem in D minor (K. 626). This funeral mass, which the composer worked on during the final months of his life, is one of the most profoundly moving and personal works in the history of music. From the dramatic intensity of the Dies irae and the heartbreaking beauty of the Lacrymosa to the movements pleading for eternal light, the work encompasses the entire emotional spectrum of the human soul. Music history is rich in requiems: some were written for liturgical purposes, while others convey universal messages about the human condition. Yet few are as deeply affecting as Mozart’s.
The concert will be conducted by the internationally acclaimed, Liszt Prize-winning Tibor Bogányi, renowned for his expressive interpretations of major choral and orchestral works.
The monumental Requiem will feature an outstanding cast of opera singers: Ildikó Megyimórecz – soprano, Benjámin Beeri – tenor, Vivienne Ortan – alto, and Balázs Bán – bass, together with the distinguished Kodály Choir Debrecen, conducted by Zoltán Kocsis-Holper.
The MÁV Symphony Orchestra warmly invites audiences to join this special evening of remembrance, reflection and musical beauty.
