Centenary Soundscapes: György Kurtág at 100

CENTENARY SOUNDSCAPES: GYÖRGY KURTÁG AT 100

A Celebration of Hungarian Chamber Music Mastery with the Sylvan Winds

Celebrating the 100th birthday of a contemporary icon, this immersive concert weaves György Kurtág’s pointillistic masterpieces—featuring spatial wind solos and his legendary Woodwind Quintet Op. 2—into a continuous mosaic of Hungarian genius. Journey from the deep Romanticism of Liszt and rhythmic drives of Bartók to vibrant modern quintets by Farkas and Orbán. One night only. 

Sylvan Winds

Keith Bonner - Flutes, Recorder

Kathy Halvorson - Oboe, English Horn

Nuno Antunes - Clarinet, Bass Clarinet

Gina Cufari - Bassoon

Zohar Schondorf - Horn

PROGRAM

- Béla Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances

- Franz Liszt: 3 Movements from Années de pèlerinage (Years of Pilgrimage)

- György Kurtág: Birthday Greeting to Judit Scherter from Signs, Games and Messages for Solo Flute

- György Kurtág: Socrates' Farewell from Signs, Games and Messages for Solo Bassoon

Intermission

- Ferenc Farkas: Serenade for Woodwind Quintet

- György Kurtág: Faltering Words (Hommage à John Cage) from Signs, Games and Messages for Solo French Horn

- György Kurtág: Consolation to Christian Sutter from Signs, Games and Messages for solo Bass Clarinet

- György Kurtág: Woodwind Quintet, Op. 2

- György Orbán: Woodwind Quintet

(subject to change)

ABOUT: Sylvan Winds - The SYLVAN WINDS, an integral part of New York City's cultural offerings, has earned both critical and audience acclaim for its spirited performances and innovative programming. Exploring the entire body of work of chamber music for wind instruments, it is the only group of its kind to present an annual concert series in New York City that was inaugurated at the historic Church of St. Luke in-the-Fields in Greenwich Village. The ensemble celebrated its 40th Anniversary during the 2018-19 season.

The Sylvan Winds have garnered numerous commissioning, recording, residency, and general support grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Chamber Music America, the New York State Council on the Arts, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and Meet the Composer, now NewMusicUSA.

Recent initiatives include exploring music from different cultures - notably "Sounds of the Americas," "Russian Nights," “Harlem Mosaic,” "Scandinavian Winds," and "Slavic Soul" – as well as a historical series of concerts "From the Library of Georges Barrère." Many of the works they perform are written for a variety of instrumental groupings and have included collaborations with such illustrious guest artists as conductors Gerard Schwarz and Ransom Wilson, the Guarneri String Quartet, pianist Claude Frank, harpsichordist Kenneth Cooper, harpist Kristi Shade, guitarists Oren Fader and Pedro Da Silva, mezzo-soprano Wendy White, narrator Robert Sherman, actor Louis Zorich, and the American Brass Quintet.

ABOUT: AFHLE, Hungarian House, now celebrating its 60th year of operation, offers cultural programming and community activities that build the American Hungarian community and its local Yorkville neighborhood in NYC. As a non-governmental and non-denominational cultural center in NYC since 1966, the community center has served children, adults, and seniors and as an educational resource for those of Hungarian descent to learn and stay in touch with their customs, traditions and cultural heritage. As a bridge to our American community, many offered programs are in both English and Hungarian and include Hungarian music, history, literature, science, film, theater, language, youth leadership/scouting, dance, and seasonal heritage activities. For newly immigrated Hungarians becoming accustomed to American society, we serve as a springboard to integration while providing services that facilitate staying in touch and celebrating Hungarian and Hungarian-American ancestry.