Adams said the centre had never before placed such a big emphasis on the music of Central Europe.
Kennedy Center president Michael M. Kaiser said the task of the centre was to bring important cultural works to America, and each year it focused on a different region from which it brought artists to Washington.
Washington?s National Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Bartók classics at the Kennedy Center on March 8 and 10; Hungary?s Takács Quartet will play works by Schubert, Bartók and Beethoven at a concert on March 13; and a production of Gypsies by Budapest?s Katona József Theatre is also on the programme.
National Philharmonic director Rita Shapiro said a performance of Bartók?s Bluebeard?s Castle and The Miraculous Mandarin after four decades would be an exciting challenge for the ensemble.
A string quartet made up of members of the National Philharmonic performed pieces by Bartók and Smetana at the residence of ambassador György Szapáry.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
