Concerto Budapest Symphony Orchestra is one of Hungary’s leading orchestras, with its rich history and dynamism of its young musicians. It is one of the most progressive and versatile symphonic orchestras, whose playing is characterized by the passion, energy, and commitment that its musicians give to their performances of repertoire ranging from well-loved masterpieces to newly composed works of the twenty-first century. Through its ambitious and innovative programs and special sound, it has brought a new colour to Hungary’s musical palette.
Concerto Budapest is one of Hungary’s oldest ensembles with more than 100 years of history, its predecessor was founded in 1907. In 2007, on its 100th anniversary, András Keller, world-renowned Hungarian violinist, pedagogue, and the founder of the Keller Quartet, was appointed as Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the orchestra. Under his leadership, the orchestra underwent a major period of artistic growth and development, as the foremost young chamber musicians have joined him.
András Keller’s innovative concert programs are designed to engage both musicians and audience members alike in a dialogue with the music. To heighten this tension, old masterpieces are often heard alongside contemporary pieces, often illuminating new aspects of both works that are a result of that particular pairing.
Highly acclaimed Hungarian musicians such as Dezső Ránki, Dénes Várjon, Barnabás Kelemen, and Miklos Perényi are regular guests of the orchestra, in addition to Concerto Budapest’s returning international guest soloists and collaborators, who include Gidon Kremer, Martha Argerich, Vadim Repin, Heinz Holliger, Isabelle Faust, Khatia Buniatishvili, Anna Vinnitskaya, Mikhail Pletnev and Evgeni Koroliov.
Concerto Budapest' repertoire ranges from virtuosic, large-scale symphonic works from Mussorgsky, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky or Shostakovich to classical concertos from Mozart or Beethoven, or contemporary pieces from Thomas Adés, Lera Auerbach, György Kurtág, Krzysztof Penderecki and László Vidovszky, among others.
Concerto Budapest has become a well-respected player on the international music scene, performing to great acclaim in the major cities of China, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, and the United States.
