MAO meets the masters! – the Autumn Concert Series of the Modern Art
Orchestra

What happens when a composer truly encounters the artists who shaped their musical
thinking? They do not simply quote or imitate them — they question, reflect, and continue
the conversation. MAO meets the masters! is the autumn concert series of the Modern Art Orchestra, bringing these deeply personal and artistic encounters to life. Closely connected composers and arrangers of the orchestra enter into dialogue with internationally acclaimed masters — not merely as a tribute, but as a living contemporary reflection. The iconic figures of big band history appear here as sources of inspiration, while today’s composers speak in their own voice. Familiar musical languages meet new ideas, and past and present illuminate one another. Each evening features two performances (6:30 PM and 9:00 PM), offering audiences the chance to experience these unique musical dialogues from different perspectives.

The opening concert focuses on the meeting of Kornél Fekete-Kovács and Bob Brookmeyer. Brookmeyer was one of the greatest innovators of modern big band writing. His music is characterized by transparent forms, finely layered textures, and sophisticated harmonic thinking. His work fundamentally shaped the sound of contemporary large ensemble jazz in
the late twentieth century. The compositional world of Kornél Fekete-Kovács approaches form and orchestral color with a similar sensitivity: structural clarity and lyrical expression are equally essential elements of his music. This evening is not only about influence, but about the encounter of genuine musical mindsets — where Brookmeyer’s transparent complexity finds a contemporary continuation.