Hungarian Emotions 100 years since the birth of Ligeti

In the 19th century, Hungarian folk music was identified in most people's minds with gypsy music, which is why Brahms' Hungarian dances have the allegro dance feel of Romany music. Later, however, the studies of Bartók and Kodály revealed the true identity of the Hungarian musical tradition, which inspired the two great composers to create masterpieces. Some of these are to be conducted tonight by the distinguished maestro Stefan Asbury, along with the otherworldly Lontano by a later Hungarian-born composer, György Ligeti. The soloist is the versatile violinist Roman Simovic, who combines service to symphonic music (as a leader of the London Symphony Orchestra) with an active and impressive solo career.