Dohnányi Orchestra Budafok

Bartók’s Kossuth Symphony is under the microscope at this concert. This is an early Bartók work dating from the beginning of the 1900s, even before Bartók became familiar with the treasury of Hungarian folk songs. His choice of theme is also romantic, revealing some kind of national commitment. Its instrumentalization and musical approach show influences of Brahms and Richard Strauss. The structure of the piece is similar to programme music, Bartók depicts characters with one or other theme. Kossuth is symbolized by recruitment-like music while those who opposed him are symbolized by a distorted version of the imperial hymn written by Haydn.