Folk Music in Symphony – Trans-Classics XIV

The “classical” composers didn’t need to wait for the term “crossover” to appear before infusing their music with the endless inspirations from other musical styles or genres. For visionaries like Franz Liszt and Antonín Dvořák, the infusion of diverse influences into their so-called “serious” music was a vital part of their creative journey. Despite Liszt’s globetrotting life between Paris, Weimar, and Rome, his Hungarian roots resonate in his musical expression. While Dvořák took on the role of Director of the Conservatory in New York during the creation of his Symphony No. 7, his love for his Bohemian heritage still shines through in the composition. For over four decades, Iván Fischer and his Budapest Festival Orchestra have been extraordinary ambassadors of this musical realm. Together, they welcome “Menuhin’s Heritage Artist” Alexandre Kantorow to tackle the challenges of Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2, aptly described by the composer as a “Symphonic Concerto” in his handwritten notes. Dvořák’s Seventh is best encapsulated as “highly concentrated” symphonic artistry: a mix of sorrow, humor, wild passages, coziness, romance ... every measure sparkles with brilliant creativity!