Rain date: 16 July
RAIN RULES

Egmont Overture, op. 84
Der glorreiche Augenblick – cantata, op. 136
Symphony No. 5 in C minor (“Fate”), op. 67

Zita Szemere, Ágnes Szalai soprano
István Horváth tenor
Krisztián Cser bass

Hungarian National Choir (Choirmaster: Csaba Somos)
Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor: Ádám Cser

Opuses associated with the idea of struggle. Beethoven wrote the Egmont incidental music (1809/1810) for Goethe’s play of the same name, which dealt with the heroic theme of the 16th century fight for freedom in the Low Countries. The most popular part of Beethoven’s work is the overture, which was heard regularly on Budapest radio broadcasts during the autumn of 1956 and became a symbol of the Hungarian revolution and fight for liberty. Beethoven composed the rarely heard cantata Der glorreiche Augenblick for the opening of the Congress of Vienna after the end of the Napoleonic Wars – the piece celebrated Europe’s victory over the armies of the invading general. Struggle is also present in Symphony No. 5 in C minor (“Fate”), one of the most famous compositions in music history, though in this case it is depicted not in historical events, but through the life of an individual. Symphony No.5 depicts Man’s struggle with fate. The hero grapples with himself in the opening movement, confesses his faith in the slow movement, reflects on the demons in his life in the scherzo, and in the finale triumphantly celebrates his victory. With thematic unity, brevity and an illustrative spirit despite the lack of a textual programme, the symphony is a prelude to Romanticism and points towards the symphonic poems of the 19th century. The vocal soloists for the cantata, Zita Szemere, Ágnes Szalai, István Horváth and Krisztián Cser, have a wealth of experience in many styles and genres and are outstanding representatives of Hungarian singing culture, while the Hungarian National Choir and the Hungarian National Philharmonic will be led by Ádám Cser. Cser is a much sought-after member of the seasoned generation of Hungarian conductors and has enjoyed great acclaim in recent years as a special guest of numerous Hungarian orchestras.