Hungarian musicians honour Lajtha László at Cairo Opera House

Hungarian flutist Peter Olah and violinist Robert Ritner along with pianist David Hales perform works by Lajtha László at Cairo Opera House

A concert was held on 26 May at Cairo Opera House to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist and pedagogue Lajtha László (1892- 1963).
The tribute concert was held under the auspices of the Cultural Office of the Hungarian embassy in Cairo.
"The life of Lajtha László showed glorious and wretched moments in life as a drop of water shows the ocean," Hungarian ambassador to Egypt Peter Kveck said in his opening remarks at the concert.
The Hungarian ambassador continued to talk about László's 7th symphony where the composer expressed his patriotic feelings upon the 1956 uprising.
This symphony was originally called Autumn but later changed to Revolution Symphony as the composer had wished.
László inspired many among his compatriots because of his aspirations and support of freedom for his country. It is the suppression of the communist regime that hindered the spread of his music.
Great Hungarian composers – Liszt, Lehár, Bartok, Kodali, Ligeti among others – have brought valuable contributions to classical music, yet László is known as the leading Hungarian symphonist.
His nine symphonies are considered to be among the finest of the genre in the 20th century.
Yet, László was not only a symphonist; his work also includes chamber music, sacred music, orchestral suites, voice and choral compositions, film music.
The concert featured sophisticated solo and chamber music pieces. László's music is a unique and original blend of French Impressionism and Hungarian folk inspirations.
This might have enhanced the warm performances of flutist Peter Olah and violinist Robert Ritner, who are both Hungarian. They were accompanied by pianist David Hales.
Two short pieces for solo flute op. 69 (1958) were performed by Olah; first piece performed was Mélancolique (melancholic), a plaintive yet lush tune. The second piece, Vif et Gracieux (vivid and graceful).
Olah played both pieces with great agility and sensitivity. His smooth trills, limpid tone and sound of the flute filled the room.
The Sonata for violin and piano, op. 68 (1962) was performed by Robert Ritner on the violin and David Hales on the piano.
The first movement, Vif et Vigoureux (vivid and vigorous) immediately captivated the audience. The 2nd movement, Lent sans traîner (slow without dragging) was smooth in sound.
The 3rd movement, Perpetuum mobile, Vite et léger (constant motion, fast and light) an extremely challenging performance, was presented with utmost control from Ritner, especially when playing glissandos with trills.
The audience was thrilled.
Last came the Sonata for flute and violin op. 64 (1958) beginning with Entrée avec 2 Cadences, where the flute was swinging swiftly between nimble trills and singing arpeggios over a rhythmic cadence by the piano.
The Berceuse Nostalgique (nostalgic lullaby), dreamy in a pure impressionistic style, was followed by a captivating lyrical Minuet. The vivid and cheerful finale was played with spirit and virtuosity from both Olah and Hales.
Peter Olah is familiar to the audience, as he usually shines in solo flute lines, while performing with Cairo Symphony Orchestra (CSO) as the principal flute player.
He also gives solo and chamber music concerts in Egypt and abroad.
Last season, he collaborated with harpist Mona Wassef and conductor Jiri Petrdlik in a mesmerising performance of Mozart's Flute and Harp Concerto.
In the next weeks, he will play flute concertos by Moscheles and Mower with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra and will also participate in another chamber music recital.
Violinist Robert Ritner graduated in 1995. He joined many orchestras, such as World Young Artists lead by Claudio Abbado, and participated in several master classes with Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
Internationally recognised, Ritner was concert master in the Hungarian State Opera and founded a string quartet "Leggiero," which presented concerts worldwide. Since 2011, he has been assistant concertmaster of Cairo Opera Orchestra.
British pianist David Hales, who provided the masterful piano accompaniment, graduated from Durham University and Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.
Since 1980, he has been a staff member at the Cairo Conservatoire and the Cairo Opera Company as a pianist and a repetiteur. He performs regularly with solo, chamber, large instrumental and vocal ensembles.
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