H-moll szenvedély

B Minor Passion

Passion, desire, intense emotions, unresolved past experiences, the search for a way out, and eventual redemption—these are the central themes of this program. Saint-Saëns’ Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor is, in many ways, a sibling to Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. Its sound is similarly intimate, whimsical, somewhat dark or melancholic, yet always striving toward the light. However, Saint-Saëns treats formal structures with remarkable freedom, so the piece feels like a spontaneous dialogue—sometimes a debate, sometimes a reconciliation—between the soloist and the orchestra. Japanese violinist Akiko Suwanai became the youngest winner of the Tchaikovsky Competition in 1990 at the age of 18, and her career has since continued to bring her ongoing success.
Tchaikovsky composed the Manfred Symphony at the encouragement of Balakirev, modelling it after Byron’s tragic hero. Yet within the lyrical soul of the work, we can discover Tchaikovsky himself—and, indeed, all of us who carry the burden of past mistakes, failed relationships, and personal regrets. According to Tchaikovsky’s work, suffering is not eternal. There is resolution, there is forgiveness—nothing is irreparably lost. Thus, the piece is not only heavy with emotion but ultimately uplifting.
The Budapest Festival Orchestra, ranked among the world’s finest, takes the stage this time not only with an international soloist but also with a foreign conductor. Spanish conductor Jaimie Martín began his career as a flutist, debuting as a soloist at Carnegie Hall at the age of 26 and serving as principal flutist with several internationally renowned orchestras. Since 2011, conducting has been the focus of his career, and he currently leads the Gävle Symphony Orchestra in Sweden.