Robert Schumann was a short-lived but prolific composer of Romantic music, with piano works, songs, symphonic and chamber music being the main works of his oeuvre. He wrote the Ouverture, Scherzo and Finale during one of the most productive and happy periods of his life, shortly after his marriage in 1841. He named it Sinfonietta at the time, and thought of the piece as his second symphony. However, the slow movement characteristic of symphonies is missing from the work, which he later renamed, giving it its final title: Ouverture, Scherzo, Finale. He revised the piece again a few years later, and after minor changes to the Finale movement, the work was given its final form. Although the Overture begins with a slow introduction, it continues in an allegro, followed by a dance like scherzo at a lively tempo, and finally, the return of the main theme and a coda closes the Finale. With this work, Schumann offers us the experience of a triumphant, powerful and exuberant Romantic music.
János Vajda is one of the most exciting and versatile composers of 20th century Hungarian music. He is an Erkel and Kossuth Prize-winning composer and music teacher whose musical work extends to many areas of music: operas, ballets, orchestral and chamber orchestral works, choral works and songs make up his oeuvre. Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra often performs works by János Vajda, so this season’s concert programme could not be complete without his works, either. This evening we present one of the composer’s new pieces, Vier vorletzte Lieder, which premiered in October of the last year. The songs will be performed by Andrea Meláth, a regular soloist of János Vajda’s works.
Saint-Saëns is one of the most famous figures of 19th century French music literature, with a vast oeuvre left behind. He was a child prodigy of exceptional talent, whose musical abilities were already evident at the age of 3. After studying the piano, he was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire and after graduating, he took up a post as organist at the St. Madelain Church. During one of his performances, Franz Liszt was present and, having heard Saint-Saens play, he described him as one of the best organists in the world. He composed his Symphony No. 3 in 1886, which was premièred in London in May of the same year. Two months later, after the death of Franz Liszt, Saint-Saëns dedicated the symphony to his late patron. The symphony is also known as the Organ Symphony, although this can lead to misunderstandings. In fact, it is an orchestral symphony in which the organ, the queen of instruments, is also featured.
