Egri & Pertis Piano Duo: Cross Currents 14. | If Bach Had Been a Diplomat…
Paul I, Prince Esterházy: Rejoice, my heart – excerpt from Harmonia Caelestis
Frederick II, king of Prussia: Presto from the Sonata in C major
Johann Sebastian Bach: Canon Fugue at the Upper Fifth on the Theme of Frederick II – from The Musical Offering, BWV 1079
Ludwig van Beethoven: 8 Variations on a Theme by Count Waldstein, WoO 67
Count Imre Széchényi Imre: Hungarian Dance (Csárdás)
Franz Liszt: Festive March on Themes by Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
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Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Songs Without Words for Four Hands, Dedicated to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert – Selection
Ignacy Jan Paderewski: Three Polish Dances, Op. 9
Darius Milhaud: Scaramouche for two pianos (1. Vif, 2. Modéré, 3. Braziliera – Mouvement de Samba)
- Mónika Egri, Attila Pertis – piano
- Guest of honour: Balázs Bokor, Ambassador, President of the Hungarian Hollywood Council
- Host: Szilvia Becze
The autumn concert of the Egri & Pertis Piano Duo’s “Cross‑Currents” series invites audiences to explore a surprising theme. Is diplomacy an art, and if so, how does it relate to the art of music? Rossini offered perhaps the most incisive answer: “The art of a diplomat differs little from that of a musician. Both must know exactly how long to pause before producing the next note – or uttering the next word – in order to achieve the greatest possible effect.”
The concert programme explores the role of music in diplomacy and, alongside renowned composers such as Bach, Beethoven and Mendelssohn, introduces diplomats who also composed music, including Counts Ferdinand Waldstein and Imre Széchényi. The audience will also encounter fascinating examples of the reverse: composers who served in diplomatic positions, such as the piano virtuoso and composer Ignacy Paderewski, who was both Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Poland, and Darius Milhaud, who worked as a diplomat in Brazil.
The concert’s guest of honour will be Ambassador Balázs Bokor, President of the Hungarian Hollywood Council, who served Hungary as a diplomat for 40 years. In a brief on-stage conversation, he will share insights from his four decades of experience, as well as his thoughts on the role of cultural diplomacy and music.
The evening will once again be hosted by Szilvia Becze, popular editor and presenter of Bartók Radio.
The series is supported by OTP Bank.
Photo credit: Mátyás Baranyai and Eszter Gordon
Tickets are available for 4900 HUF on the spot,
online at jegy.hu, and at InterTicket Jegypont partners across Hungary.
Students and pensioners can purchase tickets for the concert at a price of 3,500 HUF. Proof of eligibility for the discount will be checked at the venue.
