The Hungarian State Orchestra, the predecessor of the National Philharmonic Orchestra, played its last concert before the 1956 Revolution on October 22, 1956. Mario Rossi conducted and the virtuoso pianist György Cziffra was the soloist.
During the revolution, many of the orchestra?s members fled the country. But rehearsals started again, about two months later, with some substitutes. The orchestra played its first concert after the revolution at the Music Academy on December 31. On the programme, conducted by János Ferencsik, were Beethoven?s Violin Concerto, played by Dénes Kovács, his Overture to Egmont, Goethe?s play about Count Egmont?s failed uprising against the despotic Duke of Albe, and his Symphony No. 3 ?Eroica?, Beethoven?s tribute to the ideals of the French Revolution. During the symphony?s second movement, the Marcia funebre, the audience rose to their feet. In spite of the obvious expression of support for Hungary?s failed revolution, the authorities made not effort to prevent the concert from going ahead.
The National Philharmonic Orchestra will play the same programme at Budapest?s Palace of Arts on October 23. Zoltán Kocsis will conduct and Barnabás Kelemen will be the soloist for the Violin Concerto. Tickets will be sold at a token price of HUF 56, but donations are welcome.
The concert?s organisers are looking for members of the audience at the original concert on December 31, 1956 to share their memories of the event. Anyone who was present at the concert is urged to contact the National Philharmonic Orchestra office by telephone at (1) 411-6600 or by e-mail at info@filharmonikusok.hu by October 16.
Source: www.fidelio.hu
