MAO Meets the Masters | Szabó Illés meets Pat Metheny

What happens when a composer actually meets those who have shaped his

way of thinking? He does not quote or copy, but asks questions, debates and builds on their work. ‘MAO meets the masters!’ is the Modern Art Orchestra’s autumn concert series, which brings this unique, personal and artistic encounter to life. Artists closely associated with the orchestra engage in a dialogue with the world of a defining international master – not merely as a tribute, but as a living, contemporary reflection. Iconic figures from the history of the big band are present here as sources of inspiration, whilst today’s composers express themselves in their own voices. Familiar musical languages meet new ideas, with the past and the present illuminating one another. This unique musical dialogue will be performed at two concerts each evening (18:30 and 21:00).

Illés Szabó is a versatile artist of the young Hungarian jazz generation; as a jazz guitarist, composer and arranger, he is an active figure on the domestic music scene. Winner of the Hungarian Jazz Federation’s 2021 big band composition competition, he studied at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam

. Pat Metheny is one of jazz’s most versatile artists: his music combines lyrical melodies, atmospheric soundscapes and a groove-centred approach, whilst constantly pushing the boundaries of the genre. His compositions are at once direct and complex, accessible yet deeply crafted. What makes this concert special is that Metheny’s compositions are performed by a full orchestra: the arrangements were created by the outstanding Bob Curnow and Illés Szabó. The original pieces are presented in a new light, whilst retaining the distinctive atmosphere of Metheny’s musical world.