The opening concert is one of several during the season which will feature pieces of music inspired by works of literature. In addition to Prokofiev?s musical rendering of Tolstoy?s masterpiece, the orchestra will perform Mahler?s Symphony No. 3, of which one movement was inspired by the ?Midnight Song? from Friedrich Nietzche?s Thus Spoke Zarthustra. Also on the programme are Richard Strauss?s The Legend of Joseph, based on Thomas Mann?s Joseph and His Brothers, and a work by György Kurtág inspired by Gogol?s book Dead Souls.
In addition to its subscription concert season, the orchestra will play more than fifty concerts at schools, as well as guest concerts in Budapest, Kaposvár, Szekszárd, Győr and Szeged.
The 73-member Pannon Philharmonic was formed from a group of musicians from the Pécs Symphonic Orchestra in 2004. The Philharmonic?s members also set up a 22-member Symphonietta of Pécs, which serves as the chamber orchestra for the National Theatre of Pécs.
The fact that the Pannon Philharmonic?s season subscriptions have almost sold out attests to the orchestra?s success, says orchestra manager Orsolya Gráf. At the same time, she adds that the ensemble?s limited budget means it has trouble keeping talented musicians. Only recently, the orchestra lost its famous tuba player to another orchestra.
Because of the orchestra?s dire financial situation, director Zsolt Hamar has donated his salary this year for the upkeep of the ensemble, Gráf said.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
