LISZT, GRIEG, R. STRAUSS - LAWRENCE FOSTER

One of the highlights of the season promises to be the guest appearance of world-renowned American maestro Lawrence Foster, representing the senior generation of the international conducting community. The musician, whose parents were Romanian, has conducted the National Philharmonic Orchestra on several occasions, and each visit has been met with enthusiastic success. He is therefore almost "returning home" to the orchestra, this time conducting three romantic masterpieces. Liszt's peaceful and idyllic Orpheus and Richard Strauss's grandiose Heroic Life, which alternates heroism with self-irony, represent two stages in the development of the symphonic poem, and between them is one of the most popular piano concertos of the 19th century, Grieg's passionate Concerto in A minor will be performed by József Balog, one of Hungary's most versatile pianists.

There are artists – both conductors and soloists – with whom the National Philharmonic Orchestra has built exceptionally fruitful relationships in recent years. The audience has repeatedly welcomed these musicians' performances with great affection, and the orchestra also looks forward to their return. One such distinguished collaboration has developed between the orchestra and Lawrence Foster. Although the American conductor was born in Los Angeles in 1941, his parents were Romanian emigrants, so it is no surprise that throughout his career he has repeatedly demonstrated his interest in the music of the region, willingly conducting Hungarian and Romanian music (including works by Bartók, Kodály, Ligeti, and Enescu).