The latest tour of the Budapest Festival Orchestra conducted by Ivan Fischer and featuring violinist Renaud Capuçon in five European cities was a resounding success. The concert programs included Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E-minor, Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, and a unique performance of Fanny Hensel’s (better known by her maiden name, Fanny Mendelssohn) choral piece Morgengruß—sung by the orchestra members themselves in an unconventional interpretation.
The January tour kicked off in a very special way: The day they departed for the tour was Iván Fischer’s birthday. The members of the orchestra didn’t want this event to remain merely a note in the calendar, so above the clouds, on board the plane, they pulled out their instruments and celebrated their music director’s birthday.
At every venue, the orchestra’s performance displayed the perfect harmony of precision and emotional depth. Reviews of Teatro Grande in Brescia emphasized the “naturalness and depth” of the performance, praising also the orchestra’s singing practice. According to the Opera Teatro, “the BFO's performance breathed life into every single note,” while Capuçon's violin playing was described as “elegant and expressive, perfectly complementing the magical atmosphere created by the orchestra”.
"There are few conductors today who can so masterfully preserve the forgotten fire and rekindle embers once thought extinguished," writes the OperaTeatro about Iván Fischer. The review highlights that "in Fischer's movements, the essence always shone through: the plea that Mahler’s voice should not only be heard but that its soul should also be felt." They add: "Fischer’s conducting did not evoke the posturing of a solitary star on the podium, but rather the quiet craftsmanship of a master at work." The review concludes with these words about the concert: "This was not merely a concert—it was a true musical masterpiece, one that taught and inspired everyone."
In Zagreb, critics highlighted the unique solutions in the concert: the piece for mixed choir and the violinists playing the Mahler symphony standing up, “which enhanced the clarity and intensity of the sound”. Iván Fischer explained that “singing helps musicians improve in playing their instrument”, while the standing position of the violinists enhanced the evenness of the sound. Alenka Bobinsky called Fischer the highlight of the evening: "a world-renowned conductor and a versatile intellectual who deeply knows and loves both Mahler’s music and his own orchestra."
The final stop of the tour was in Frankfurt, at the Alte Oper. According to the review in the Online Merker, the a cappella performance of “Fanny Hensel’s ‘Morgengruß’ seemed a humorous and unusual opening”. In Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Capuçon “played with technical perfection, interpreting the piece with subtlety and artistic expressiveness”. In Mahler's 5th Symphony, the orchestra “created a rich and layered sound under Iván Fischer's precise and inspiring conducting.” The Adagietto “had a profound impact on the audience with its lyrical subtlety”. The Alte Oper erupted in well-deserved applause after the final chord „rewarding the orchestra’s Mahler performance with standing ovations. The Budapest Festival Orchestra made a lasting impression”, concluded the Online Merker in its review.
Once again, the Budapest Festival Orchestra’s tour proved that the language of music has no boundaries. The innovative musical approach of Iván Fischer and the BFO finds its way to the heart of not only the musicians, but also audiences, masterfully creating harmony between tradition and innovation. Critics unanimously agree that the orchestra is one of the finest ensembles in Europe and the world, and their concerts will always bring exciting and unforgettable experiences.
