Pannon Philharmonic

This year's programme is going to be also a curiosity of music history; on 11 December 2013, a real musical wonder will sound: Wagner's Lohengrin, the opera in concert size.  It is much more than a scenic opera, in Pécs, you can see and listen to a production never has been such kind in the world. 

This exclusive Grail story, originated in the Germanic mythology and built up by Wagner, suits well into the orchestra's tale and myth programme, running in the whole year. Although by music pros, the works of Wagner are associated mostly with monumental compositions, which are complex; they are, therefore, terrible long – so some opera fans turn aback from them. But now, to overcome that, the solution has been born. Many also fear that the Wagner operas offer very difficult music. Well, the Lohengrin to be presented is very special from this approach too, because it will not be any "idling" in it, Tibor Bogányi conductor has shortened the piece with a competent hand. The story is remaining entirely, but the performance has been shortened to two-two and a half hour with one intermission; and it will not lack any of the well-known melodies. A stunningly beautiful, lyrical music can be heard with fabulous stories having a moral; and this premiere is a privilege of the people of Pécs; nowhere else will it be played in the country. The production moves a huge apparatus:  six soloists are in it and several combined choirs assure the singing background. It is about an elementary piece with stylized scenery, and costume dressed actors; the director is Tibor Bogány’s Irish musician friend who often set Wagner works on the stage at Bayreuth, as well. So, you can be a part of an attempt to create a new genre – to see a concert-length opera.
When asked why this opera has been chosen, Bogányi Tibor summarized it: "I have been studying this piece for years; and I couldn’t find a pair of it in the music literature; it does “über” (out-top) everything - in experience and intensity that will be increased by a spectacular stage design and special light effects."