Liszt Academy welcomes Paganini’s most authentic interpreter and his string quartet
Salvatore Accardo is considered the most popular violinist of his generation, his playing technique often being compared to that of his legendary predecessor, Paganini. This time, the head of jury of the Bartók World Competition and Festival is returning to Hungary alongside his string quartet, the Quartetto Accardo to give a recital at the Liszt Academy on 8 October featuring works by Italian composers, such as Boccherini, Verdi or Respighi.
It is the not first time that this virtuoso – who often plays also Paganini’s compositions – has given a recital in Hungary. The texture of his tone and overwhelming force mesmerise both the audience and the critiques. Accardo made friends with the violin when he was three and started taking lessons at the age of seven. Aged thirteen he burst into the music scene with Paganini’s Capriccio, and for more than six decades, he has been an active performer of the Italian and international music community. Renowned composers, such as Donatoni, Piston, Piazzolla or Xenakis – have dedicated their works to the violinist, who also acts as a conductor.
Salvatore Accardo
Since Salvatore Accardo is also a devotee of chamber music, in 1992, he founded his own string quartet, the Quartetto Accardo. As to the composers of the evening, Boccherini – who comes from a family of artists and musicians – can boast nearly a hundred string quartets (even outdoing Haydn in this regard). This time, the ensemble will be playing the String Quartet in E minor, Op. 33 in the Grand Hall of the Liszt Academy. Then, Il Tramonto, one of the most dramatic pieces of Respighi’s will be featured. Here Respighi - who is famous four his large-scale symphonic composition – set to music Shelley’s poem The Sunset – telling the story of the union and separation of star-crossed lovers. The voice part of this highly emotional chamber music piece will be sung by the soprano Eszter Sümegi (Distinguished and Meritorious Artist of the Republic of Hungary). The concert will be closed with Verdi’s unique String Quartet in E minor, on which the composer himself – who was not so well-verged in purely instrumental pieces – commented with the following words: „I don't know whether the Quartet is beautiful or ugly, but I do know that it's a Quartet!"
After the concert, a public on-stage conversation will follow. The guest of the discussion series ’Coda’ will be Salvatore Accardo, while Endre Tóth will be acting as the host of the event.