Liszt Academy Concert Magazine January-July 2014 [antikvár]

Dear Visitors, It is a great feeling for us to see how audiences are again taking possession of the renovated building on Ferenc Liszt Square. They marvel at its beautiful forms and forgotten ornaments; they feel reassured that while the shape of the seats is unchanged, one can now enjoy a concert in more comfort. Performers excitedly seek their old accustomed places behind the stage, but find instead more spacious, better-equipped dressing rooms. Perhaps our ears had forgotten the Grand Hall's acoustics, but it is easy to get used to them again: every reverberation of the music can be heard, even the soloist's breath. Much has been renewed but the essence is unchanged: the love of music, the respect for the shrine on Ferenc Liszt Square. Music has returned to the shrine; concerts follow from day to day. Many have ask worriedly: where will the audiences come from? Will we be able to fill all the dynamically expanding concert venues in the capital? Our experience so far has shown that, yes, we will: people do indeed demand quality. Foreign tourists marvel at the city's new jewel, the art nouveau miracle now liberated from its recent scaffolding. And they marvel at what is happening inside. They are seeking tickets. Youngsters come up from the trendy ruin pubs of Király Street and discover a new venue. Budapest can again win its deserved place on Europe's musical map as one of the most influential venues on the world music circuit. The Liszt Academy has always had an important role - and this has not changed. It was from here that music's Hungarian ambassadors set out into the world and to where they returned: to use András Batta's comparison, it is like a main railway station of music. The reader is holding in his hands the first, not quite complete, season of programmes since the reopening of the Liszt Academy. In devising them, we are not taking the easy route: we are trying to give back chamber music its status by offering performers who are a guarantee of the highest quality. Supreme Hungarian musicians and international stars of the concert podium will play together, our new talents and teachers show what they can do, and we also happily recommend our diploma concerts to you. We are delighted that once again we can offer a venue for the city's orchestras for their subscription series. These high-class orchestras will present a varied symphonic repertoire to delighted audiences. Our resident orchestra, the Concerto Budapest, is richly represented; they also participate in the university's teaching duties. We look forward to greeting you at our concerts as you discover again the wonders of the Liszt Academy. András Csonka Cultural Director of the Liszt Academy