This summer, the MÁV Symphony Orchestra invites audiences to three exceptional Friday evening concerts in the elegant Ceremonial Hall of the Italian Cultural Institute. Spanning the passionate world of Romanticism, dazzling instrumental virtuosity, and the sunlit charm of Mediterranean-inspired music, the series promises a wealth of unforgettable musical experiences.
On 19 June, internationally acclaimed violinist and conductor Kristóf Baráti leads the Orchestra in a programme of dramatic symphonic masterpieces, featuring celebrated violinist Lajos Sárközy Jr. as soloist.
On 26 June, Barnabás Kelemen takes the podium alongside an outstanding international cast of soloists: Dóra Kokas (cello), Gloria Campaner (piano), and Maxim Rysanov (viola). Their programme brings together two contrasting musical worlds: the youthful brilliance of Felix Mendelssohn and the wit and wisdom of Richard Strauss's orchestral masterpiece Don Quixote.
The series concludes on 3 July, when young Italian conductor Davide Trolton joins cellist Lénárd Kokas for a programme celebrating the bright, carefree spirit of summer. Featuring works by Rossini, Saint-Saëns, and Mendelssohn, the evening is filled with elegance, warmth, and classical balance.
The MÁV Symphony Orchestra warmly welcomes audiences to all three concerts.
The Power and Beauty of Romanticism – 19 June
On 19 June 2026, the MÁV Symphony Orchestra presents a programme exploring the richness of the Romantic imagination through works by Mendelssohn, Wieniawski, and Brahms. Audiences will encounter the mysterious forces of nature, breathtaking instrumental virtuosity, and some of the greatest achievements of the symphonic repertoire.
The evening opens with Felix Mendelssohn's evocative Hebrides Overture (Fingal's Cave), inspired by the composer's journey to Scotland. This atmospheric masterpiece vividly portrays the endless swell of the Atlantic Ocean and the otherworldly beauty of Fingal's Cave with its towering basalt columns. Such was the work's impact that Johannes Brahms famously remarked that he would gladly exchange all of his own compositions for the chance to have written it.
The concert's soloist is Lajos Sárközy Jr., one of Hungary's most versatile and captivating violinists. He performs Henryk Wieniawski's Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, one of the crowning achievements of the Romantic violin repertoire. Passionate melodies, astonishing virtuosity, and a fiery finale inspired by Hungarian and Romani musical traditions combine to create a work of irresistible brilliance.
The second half of the programme is devoted to Johannes Brahms's Symphony No. 1, a monumental work whose creation occupied the composer for nearly twenty years as he struggled with the legacy of Beethoven. The result surpassed every expectation. From its dramatic opening movement to its triumphant finale, the symphony stands among the greatest achievements of the Romantic era—so much so that Brahms's contemporaries soon hailed it as "Beethoven's Tenth."
The concert will be conducted by Kristóf Baráti, the internationally acclaimed Hungarian violinist, recipient of both the Kossuth Prize and the Liszt Ferenc Prize, who has also established an outstanding reputation as a conductor in recent years.
The combination of these exceptional artists and timeless masterpieces promises an unforgettable evening for everyone wishing to experience the passion, grandeur, and enduring beauty of Romantic music.
Photo: Kristóf Baráti © Marco Borggreve
