The Grand Evening Concert Part 1 – Zoltán Kodály „Psalmus hungaricus“The Grand Evening Concert Part I

Merseburg Cathedral | 8:30 PM
The Grand Evening Concert Part 1

Zoltán Kodály (1882 – 1967): „Psalmus hungaricus“ for tenor, choir, orchestra and organ

Guidance
Soma Szabó

CHOR
Nyíregyházi Cantemus Choir

Ensembles
State Opera Halle

TENOR
Daniel Johannsen

AT THE LOADING DOCK GATE
István Ella

With Zoltán Kodály's monumental “Psalmus hungaricus,” one of the most impressive works of 20th-century Hungarian choral symphonics will be performed in Merseburg. The composition for tenor, choir, orchestra, and organ combines archaic power, spiritual intimacy, and a national musical language into a moving musical statement. The result is a work of great emotional range, impressively oscillating between lament, supplication, and hope. Kodály draws deeply from Hungarian cultural and musical tradition, shaping it into a tone language that is as personal as it is universally understandable. Conducted by Soma Szabó design Nyíregyházi Cantemus Choirwhich State Opera Halle, Tenor Daniel Johannsen and organist István Ella this exceptional work in a large ensemble. The interplay of powerful choral sound, orchestral richness and the colourful sound world of the Ladegast organ unfolds an intense musical dramaturgy. The Merseburg Cathedral thus becomes an impressive resonance space for a work that combines spiritual depth and sonic grandeur in a special way.

We Nyíregyházi Cantemus Choir stands for that great Hungarian choral culture, which is closely linked to the musical heritage of Zoltán Kodály. From the 1975 by Dénes Szabó The well-founded Cantemus work at the Zoltán Kodály School in Nyíregyháza has given rise to a choir family of international repute, which performs worldwide with its ensembles and has received numerous awards. In Merseburg, this means experiencing a vocal ensemble that stands for stylistic mastery, rich expressiveness, and a choral art deeply rooted in the Hungarian understanding of music. Especially in Kodály's Hungarian Psalm this special connection of spiritual intimacy, sonic cohesion and emotional intensity can be impressively experienced.

With the State Opera Halle a major Central German ensemble performs in Merseburg, which is at home in both concert and opera repertoire and is broadly positioned. In Kodály's Hungarian Psalm the orchestra plays a key role: it carries the dramatic tension arcs of the work, connects the vocal power of the Nyíregyházi Cantemus Choir with the tenor's voice Daniel Johannsen and simultaneously opens the space for the sonic accents of the Ladegast organ. It is precisely from this interplay of orchestral fullness, choral intensity, and sacred tonal language that the work derives its special effect. Thus, the Staatskapelle Halle becomes a supporting force on this evening of a grand overall musical experience in Merseburg Cathedral.