Budapest Strings Chamber Orchestra

It is a tradition now for Budapest Strings Chamber Orchestra to arrange this celebratory, and end-of-year, concert on the birthday of their founder, Károly Botvay. This year, the glitter of the occasion is enhanced with the solo of pianist Gábor Farkas. We start with two Mozart pieces, the birth dates of which are separated by two decades but they both brought success and renown into the short life of the composer. The D major symphony flowed from the pen of the mere nine-year-old Mozart when he was in London. The 29-year-old composer of the F major concerto was by then resident in Vienna and striving to make a livelihood as an independent composer. At that time the piano concerto was his principal genre and these works – with Mozart himself seated at the piano – were hugely successful. Brahms, who at 57 was preparing to retire, intended the G major string quintet to be his adieu. Not only does it contain an element of sad farewell, but one can also discern the composer’s good cheer and energy in it.