Commemorating the birthday of Béla Bartók

The great Hungarian composer, pianist, and ethnomusicologist was born on this day 140 years ago. “The significance of Béla Bartók lies in four major areas of music—composition, performance, pedagogy, and ethnomusicology. As a composer of a stature equaled by few in the first half of the 20th century, he fused the essence of Hungarian and related folk music with traditional music to achieve a style that was at once nationalistic and deeply personal. As a pianist he gave concerts in Europe and the United States, disseminating the newer Hungarian music. As a teacher he helped train generations of pianists, both Hungarian and foreign. And as an ethnomusicologist he was one of the first to examine folk music with attention to its historical and sociological implications. He helped to lay the foundations for the study of comparative musical folklore in Hungary and published several important book-length studies of Hungarian and Romanian folk music.” /Britannica/

Last September, Hungarian communities all over the world led by the Hungarian Cultural Centre London and the Bartók Cultural Society commemorated the great composer with a global flashmob.

On 25 March, the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra is premiering a live concert as a tribute to Bartók’s work and humanity. With the help of live stream technology, both Hungarian and international audiences can enjoy a concert of prime music-historical significance. Following long-established cooperation, composer, conductor and music educator Péter Eötvös - whose accomplishments have been recognised, among others, with the Order of Saint Stephen and the Kossuth Prize - has dedicated a composition of his to the Pannon Philharmonic. On the master's request, the work's world premiere will take place in the Kodály Centre in Pécs. Eötvös is one of the most acclaimed contemporary composers of this century and a returning guest conductor of highly prestigious orchestras, so much so that the greatest ensembles of various continents have been looking forward to working with him.

The concert can be viewed free of charge at 8 PM (CET) on 25 March at this link.