The last cheerful sound before the world war, bringing harmony to a seemingly irreconcilable conflict and a groundbreaking string octet: this is the emotional rollercoaster offered by the Budapest Festival Orchestra to audiences in Saanen. A few months after composing his Divertimento, an unimpeded piece invoking also the looming atmosphere of war, Bartók emigrated to America. Iván Fischer reflects on the horrors of that very war, while exploring how, despite all this, we can still admire German culture. The answer is provided, among other things, by Mendelssohn’s piece concluding the concert, which is still a hallmark work in octet literature. In the cantata of Fischer, also the conductor of the concert, the soloists will be Gergely Csikota, the orchestra’s well-traveled trumpet player, and soprano Mirella Hagen, whose voice was praised by Bachtrack as “effortless and ethereal”.

Tour: Menuhin Festival Gstaad – Chamber Concert

St. Mauritius Church Saanen

Three icons of Romanticism, an emotional intermezzo, a world-famous violin concerto and the sounds of the Rhein will make up the program of the Budapest Festival Orchestra in Montpellier. The first notes of the concert will be played in a commemoration: Brahms’s lament seeking calm will be performed in the orchestration and in memory of Victor Aviat, principal oboist of the orchestra, who passed away in May. The Mendelssohn concerto in the middle, comprising a challenging opening movement, a lyrical aria and a finale evoking A Midsummer Night’s Dream will feature the soloist Renaud Capuçon, a returning guest artist for the BFO. The former concertmaster of Claudio Abbado will use his 1737 Guarnieri violin to share the deep and nuanced tones of the piece, while displaying the virtuosity which makes him a favorite of audiences and critics. The program will conclude with a Schumann symphony inspired by pleasant experiences and calling to mind a peaceful riverside excursion.

EPSG:4326

Tour: Montpellier Capuçon, Fischer

Le Corum

Experience our end-of-season Concertino event up close in an informal setting. At the general rehearsal, our supporters can gain an insight into the preparation process.

Meeting point in the foyer of the Liszt Academy between 9:30 and 9:50. Attendance at the general rehearsal is free of charge for members of our BFO Patrons club, but subject to prior registration. Registration is available on the website after logging in.

Concertino: C.P.E. Bach, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Shostakovich, Beethoven

Liszt Academy

The Czech musical tradition is often associated with the 19th century – with the Czech National Revival and the works of Smetana and Dvořák. However, Czech music, or more precisely the music by Czech composers, comprises a high number of remarkable compositions dating from the Baroque and Classical periods.

Beethoven. Dvořák. Mendelssohn. Vranický

Dvořák Hall Rudolfinum

The staggeringly talented Augustin Hadelich sets his sights on Mendelssohn’s treasured Violin Concerto, seizing our attention from the iconic introduction all the way through its breathless finale. Conductor Antonello Manacorda also leads Schoenberg’s hyper-romantic Second Chamber Symphony, which took 33 years to be completed, and Schubert’s Eighth Symphony, which famously never was ... though that hasn’t kept the beloved “Unfinished” from its celebrated place in the repertoire.

Hadelich Plays Mendelssohn

Severance Music Center

In keeping with the turn of the year, the chamber choir's two concerts will feature works on the theme of "Passing of the Year." The repertoire ranges from the Romantic era of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy and Johannes Brahms, through the 20th century to Benjamin Britten and the present day.

Passing of the Year

Parish of St. Paul

US Tour

RiverCenter for the Performing Arts

Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Carnegie Hall

Opelika High School

The Byers Theatre, Sandy Springs

The Community Church of Vero Beach

At the closing concert of the Talich’s Beroun International Music Festival, Prague Philharmonia will appear with the distinguished soloist, Jan Fišer, concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic, under the baton of Jiří Habart, one of the most promising young Czech conductors of today. A highlight of the evening will be the world premiere of Jiří Pelikán’s Dvě brány (Two Gates), commissioned by the festival to mark the 760th anniversary of the first written mention of the town of Beroun.

Talich’s Beroun: Closing Concert

KD Plzeňka, Beroun

Chamber Concert Early successes

Munich Residence

Evangelische Akademie

Chamber Concert "Early successes"

1. Chamber Concert

Reithalle

The monastery courtyard of the Reichenau-Mittelzell Minster is a wonderful, historic and acoustically excellent place for the annual "Island Classic" and is popular with locals, day-trippers and travelers alike. It was initiated - together with the municipality of Reichenau - by Douglas Bostock, who has lived on Reichenau for a long time.

Island Classic on the Island of Reichenau

Did you know…?

...that the harp has been known for over 5,000 years? Even King Solomon is associated with it in the Old Testament. Admittedly, it underwent a number of changes before the modern concert harp could produce all the notes. If you add up the wooden and mechanical parts, the total number of components used adds up to a good 2,000.

And so, in the last subscription concert of the season, the rather quiet, golden tones initially dominate the action on stage, before we bid farewell to the summer break with Beethoven's powerful 5th Symphony.

Marion Ravot already has an impressive CV at a young age, as does the charismatic and energetic conductor.

Reithaus concert

Hessisches Landgestüt Dillenburg

Did you know…?

...that the harp has been known for over 5,000 years? Even King Solomon is associated with it in the Old Testament. Admittedly, it underwent a number of changes before the modern concert harp could produce all the notes. If you add up the wooden and mechanical parts, the total number of components used adds up to a good 2,000.

Symphony Concert

Aula der Musikhochschule

Apollo-Theater Siegen

Concert introduction May '25

The third evening will start in a very progressive spirit with the world premiere of a new composition for orchestra and solo trombone. Petr Wajsar, a contemporary Czech composer loved by performers and audiences alike, will present his legendary sense of humor and compositional skills. In addition to its wit and theatrical elements, his work is characterized by a crossover between many genres of classical and non-classical music. He regularly collaborates with the members of the Prague Philharmonia, especially in Contemporary Music Series S.

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

Events

Upcoming events

Jan 31, 2027

Sunday Chamber Music – 4 · Budapest Festival Orchestra

Past events

Aug 17, 2026

Tour: Menuhin Festival Gstaad – Chamber Concert · Budapest Festival Orchestra

Jul 16, 2026

Tour: Montpellier Capuçon, Fischer · Budapest Festival Orchestra

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