Music of the revolution

On the anniversary of the 1956 Revolution, pianist Alex Szilasi and legal historian Dr. Attila Horváth will give a lecture that brings together social history and musicology in an interactive programme.

Alex Szilasi's virtuoso piano playing will evoke the atmosphere of the revolutions of the 19th and 20th centuries and the music associated with them, through works by Chopin, Liszt, Shostakovich and others. Dr. Attila Horváth brings a humorous and personable style to his performances, and together with moderator Artemis Severinghaus, they will form the evening's team of performers.

The revolution is an invention, a riddle of the new age. There were revolts and uprisings before, but they had a completely different meaning. Today's lecture will focus on the events that began with the Great French Revolution and brought about major historical changes. One question to be answered is how the revolutions affected composers and performers. Another is how composers and performers tried to influence the masses. And when the revolutionary events began, how did they try to inspire their fellow countrymen.