Pannon Philharmonic

If there were an official ranking of the concert halls, the Berliner Philharmonie likely would have a chance of not only applying for being on the list, but also leading it. An orchestra that is invited into this sanctuary can tell about itself that it has reached an important pinnacle – since yesterday, 5 January 2014, the Pannon Philharmonic is a member of this exclusive  club. For a musician, performing at the Philharmonie is the same as playing a game on the lawn of Wimbledon or the Barnebau for an athlete; it is even more important than the  amazing acoustics than the legacy of the great maestros of past and present - especially the resident orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic's legendary leaders, Karajan, Abbado, and Rattle i- s almost palpable.
The concert was conducted by the principal conductor of the Pannon Philharmonic, Tibor Bogányi, who had arranged the programme from the most popular Russian works of music literature: Glinka's Ruslan and Ludmilla Overture, Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor – with the worthily world-famous Andrei Gavrilov as the soloist - and Rimsky-Korsakov's symphonic poem Scheherazade. Of course, at the end of the concert, as an encore, the orchestra played a Hungarian opus, Kodály’s Dances of Galanta; and the audience celebrated the ensemble with standing ovation - just like at all the previous stages of the ten-concert-tour.

(Photo: Peter Adamik)

"This is not an unexpected success, but the result of a ten-year-long, conscious construction", emphasized Zsolt Horváth, director of the orchestra. "In 2003, we got rid of all the elements of the orchestra’s life that could make the quality questionable. We selected our conductors and soloists very strictly; and did accept concert invitations that would have not positioned the ensemble properly – although there were plenty of requests.. This concert is telling the world that the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra has reached the level that is now compatible with the world's leading concert halls."
The mayor of Pécs, Zsolt Páva, visibly proud of the city's orchestra, said before the concert. "I have to get used to the feeling, the experience that such a thing happens at all. Pécs is a small city compared to the megacities that the ones represent themselves here; but the Pannon Philharmonic with its name change ten years ago at the same time committed itself to a quality that has elevated Pécs close to Europe's great cultural centres, with accomplishments like this concert. The success of Pécs is also the success of Hungary; undertaking of such projects, we can give an example to other not-capital cities and towns."
At an earlier company meeting, the orchestra as community accepted the desired  goals that they wanted  to achieve in the coming years. The Berlin Philharmonie was one of the most desirable trophies, but it doesn’t mean having a rest now; there are still plenty of places - especially overseas and in the Far East, which inspired the orchestra. "It remains our goal to put quality before quantity, we will not be a touring orchestra - we could not, as we have a lot of work to do in Pécs, as the resident orchestra Kodály Center as well. The most important measure of success is that the most renowned soloists, including one of today's most sought-after pianists, Andrei Gavrilov also happy to return to us in the next season, at one of the concert of our Budapest series"- Zsolt Horváth said.
According to Tibor Bogányi, the chief conductor, this concert is a milestone of the life of the orchestra. "it is an overpowering experience, to play in this room, in front of one of the most sophisticated audiences. All members of the orchestra felt that the top of this long and tense-paced tour – on which we played, in addition, four different programs! – is this last concert in Berlin, in both musical and emotional terms. Playing and earning success at one of the world's most important concert halls, following legendary performers - it's every musician’s dream. It was good to feel, besides the audience's love, the recognition of the local professional team, as well - if after the concert, going backstage you hear that the stage workers and the sound guy are enthusiastically talking about, how excellent the concert was, then it should be seriously taken into account, as they hear day by day the best ones."

(Photo: Peter Adamik)

...and to scroll and browse: click here.