Liszt Academy Concert Magazine October-December 2013 [antikvár]

THE PRIME MINISTER'S GREETINGD BARNA BURGERDear Concertgoer,The Fountain of Art, a work created by Aladár Körösfői-Kriesch more than 100 years ago, can be seen on the first floor of the recently restored Liszt Academy. When you are near Liszt Ferenc Square, we suggest you take a moment to marvel at this work of art. At the centre of the composition are five graceful female figures symbolizing the five branches of the arts: painting, sculpture, architecture, literature and music. This part of the picture reflects how the four fellow arts are able to assist in the birth of music.The editors of this publication wished to combine the different branches of art in much the same way, placing the emphasis on the universal, common noble goal of art. And the goal? An aesthetic experience. Art is destined to touch what is immortal in the soul. When a work of art moves us, we break away from our everyday existence and stand outside time and space. This is particularly true of music, which is capable of capturing our attention and holding our spirit spellbound for hours.Interestingly, the building is perfectly suited to how music works: the rigorous, classical forms are like harmonies created out of notes positioned with mathematical precision. The late eclectic exterior of the building hide the early 20th century splendour that is so characteristic of Art Nouveau, the groundbreaking beauty of which stirs the soul in the same way as the emotional impact of music.The Liszt Academy is a sacred hall, a temple of the arts, which however would be merely a dramatic composition in stone and marble, columns and stairs, were it not for the fact that it is busy with students by day, and resounds to the music of masters at night. It is this content that fills with life this beautifully restored, modern building that has managed to retain its classical elements, and it is music that lifts the soul into a transcendental dimension.The institution is not only one of the most attractive concert venues in the world but it is also a key bastion of music teaching. Young talented artists of Hungarian classical music life find the centre represents a whole repository of opportunities for both learning and performing. Once again, this season features numerous concerts where audiences can enjoy the skills of the finest talents of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. The Fountain of Art shall not run dry as long as it is constantly fed, refreshed and replenished with the help of 21st century technical advances and 21st century young artists.After many many years the Liszt Academy has once again become worthy of the name of its founder, Ferenc Liszt. Finally, the building is with us in all its original glory, while the institution has been given a new image that stylishly combines tradition with modernity. All those who buy tickets for concerts here will no longer have to thirst for high culture: they will now receive it from the purest of sources.Viktor Orbán Prime Minister of Hungary