Liszt Academy Series 5/2
Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra
Artistis director and conductor: István Várdai
Concertmaster: Péter Tfirst
Soloist: Elisabeth Leonskaja (piano)
Concert on the 3rd Saturday of Advent
Mozart: Adagio and Fugue in C minor, K. 546
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488
Interval
Schubert: String Quintet in C major, D956 – performed by string orchestra
Although the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra’s Advent Sunday concert is not thematically tied to the December holidays, its atmosphere still evokes the magical feeling often associated with the season of anticipation. This sentiment is further enhanced by the timeless artistic presence of the evening’s soloist. Elisabeth Leonskaja, who began her career as a child prodigy, has captivated audiences worldwide for nearly as long as the host ensemble has stood at the forefront of classical music.
The first half of the program is dedicated to Mozart: it opens with the contemplative Adagio and Fugue in C minor, K. 546, followed by the perennial favorite, Piano Concerto in A major, K. 488, featuring Leonskaja as soloist and conducted by István Várdai.
The second half is devoted to one of the most treasured and expansive works in the string chamber music repertoire — Schubert’s String Quintet — presented in a chamber orchestra arrangement.
