Dezső Ránki joined the orchestra for a performance of Bartók?s Piano Concerto No. 2, filling in at the last minute for András Schiff, who fell ill with the flu.
BFO musical director and conductor Iván Fischer said he had recommended Ránki as a fill-in because the pianist had earlier performed the piece with the orchestra.
In addition to works by Bartók, the programme featured the music of Schubert.
Fischer said he had paired up the two composers because of their ?similar message?.
He explained that one encounters a deep lyricism in Bartók?s tautness, a lyricism that was first brought to fruition by Schubert.
Fischer called the enthusiasm of the Paris audience ?fantastic? and said they demanded encores of both Bartók and Schubert.
The BFO performed at the Salle Pleyel a year earlier as part of the International Liszt Year celebrations. The orchestra will return to Paris in September.
The BFO will next play in Hungary on March 29, in the city of Veszprém.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
