Prepare to be amazed when Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra come to your city. They have a unique approach to recruiting musicians, bypassing auditions and instead seeking out like-minded individuals who share their vision for the future of classical music. But it’s not just their recruitment methods that set them apart. When they perform, there is a palpable energy that flows through the orchestra, creating a sense of unity between the performers and the audience.
The word has clearly spread about the Budapest Festival Orchestra, as the Royal Albert Hall was packed for their first of three Proms appearances in their 40th year. This may seem surprising given their radical tendencies, but their performance was anything but ordinary. The orchestra’s sound is rich and powerful, thanks in part to their clever placement of the double basses and timpani. Watching Fischer conduct is a sight to behold, with his bold and expressive gestures leading the musicians to produce individual, captivating, and thought-provoking performances.
A prime example of this can be seen in their rendition of Weber’s overture to Der Freischütz. Fischer imbued each chord with an undeniable sense of possibility, using his impeccable sense of rubato to tug at heartstrings and quicken pulses. Equally captivating was Schiff’s interpretation of Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor. Often portrayed as a lively composition, Schiff’s reading was imbued with a mellowness that evoked the feeling of a warm autumn evening. The chemistry between conductor, orchestra, and soloist was evident, as they performed as if they were lifelong friends savoring a fine vintage wine.
The performance of Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony held the potential for a haunting autumnal quality. Fischer’s love for a good melody was on full display, crafting a rendition that combined delicate textures with gothic romance. The scherzo danced with ethereal woodwinds, while the Adagio exuded a noble Elgarian quality. The finale, which saw each section of the orchestra rise to their feet in turn, created a wonderfully theatrical conclusion to the symphony.
The surprises continued the following afternoon with one of the Budapest Festival Orchestra’s famous Audience Choice events. Through a unique combination of popular acclaim and seat numbers drawn from a tuba, the audience collectively constructed a symphony using a list of 265 potential movements. The end result may have been a bit of a musical Frankenstein’s monster, but with Fischer as the charismatic host, it didn’t matter. Meanwhile, the crowd was entertained with Hungarian jazz, klezmer, and even orchestral musicians showcasing their vocal talents with a Monteverdi madrigal. The versatility of the orchestra knows no bounds.
You can experience the magic of the Budapest Festival Orchestra on BBC Sounds until October 9th. Don’t miss out on the ongoing Proms, which continue until September 9th.
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