Our programme for the next season will be colourful – in fact, this is what sets the Budapest Festival Orchestra apart from other orchestras. There will be a variety of Baroque, Classical, Romantic and contemporary events, the orchestra will even sing – and not just in the encore, but also as part of the concert programmes. The short Dvořák choral pieces included are gems rarely heard in symphony concerts. It is my firm belief that orchestras in the future must widen their repertoire and include Baroque music, contemporary works, choral compositions and chamber music masterpieces. We are working on this widening, step by step, and this year will mark an important milestone.

The season opens with Baltic music, with particular focus on the works of Arvo Pärt. While we perform Čiurlionis’ symphonic poems, this painter-composer's artwork will be displayed, projected on a big screen. This year, we will also introduce several young Hungarian soloists to you, including Zoltán Fejérvári, a rising star with a bright international career who recently won the Montreal Piano Competition. Bluebeard’s Castle will feature two Hungarian singers: the title role will be sung by Krisztián Cser (you will remember him as Sarastro in the Magic Flute and Kossuth in The Red Heifer). The part of Judit will be performed by Viktória Vizin. This concert will mark her debut with the Budapest Festival Orchestra.

We would be delighted if many of you joined us on our tour in October to Vicenza, Italy, where we founded the new Vicenza Opera Festival. It will take place in Palladio's and Scamozzi's beautiful Teatro Olimpico, constructed in 1585.  The stage design has been preserved in perfect condition, and it will be an exciting experience to perform there. As the theatre is tiny, only a few supporters will be able to attend the event, but we will make every effort to ensure that it can also be watched online. This is a very ambitious project, but I’m confident that we will succeed in creating a new tradition and hold a festival there each year.

We will be continuing our community activities at home, too, visiting schools, nursing homes, churches and abandoned synagogues. However, our main musical events will take place in the concert halls in Budapest, and we have the pleasure of inviting you to attend them. It is a great delight to see the gradual progress of the BFO’s audience into a happy community. Please remain loyal to this family!

Best wishes,
Iván Fischer

Season tickets