The musical treasures of the present and the last century are revealed by the first concert of the Hungarian Gems series in 2021, which offers a series of remarkable works for wood and brass players and strings. The program will run from Sándor Veress's early Sonatina in 1933 to Péter Eötvös's Octet (October 2008), while the number of performers will range from 3 woodwinds to 16 strings. The latter, a string ensemble, will play a leading role in András Szőllősy's 1983 Tristia: recalling not only the excellent composer born just a hundred years ago, but also his colleague who mourned by his mourning music, Rudolf Maros. The Ligeti Ensemble's namesake is evoked by his early wind bagatelle series, while István Márta is represented on the program by a 1986 trombone piece. A composition of György Kurtág, who turns 95 in 2021, will be performed as well: the Wind Quintet, Op. 2, from 1959 – the year which marks the birth of the voice of Kurtág as a composer.