Halversen Program
Notes
by Robert Gordon
Franz Liszt, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2. Zheng Guo, Guest Conductor
The Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 by Franz Liszt (1811-1866) is one of the more familiar works in the
concert repertoire. It has long been a showcase for pianists, of course, and
tonight’s orchestrated version will be instantly recognizable to even the more
infrequent concert goer.
Liszt himself was a world renowned pianist, and his
compositions for piano were in great demand during his lifetime and have been
ever since. But he might have been slightly nonplussed had he been able to
foresee how much the popularity of this particular piece in recent years has
rested on its use as film music, and especially as background music for
cartoons. But if the listener can avoid conjuring up visions of Bugs Bunny or
Tom and Jerry, the music will be found to be very enjoyable and worthwhile.
Preview the music on
YouTube:
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 by Liszt: Orchestra version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN92591mDaE
Victor Borge has fun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyArTMtgT1w start at 3:07 for when he gets
to the piano.
Lang, Lang piano solo version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-EGKpbIBuw
Then there's Bugs Bunny's
version complete with carrots:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYM84n-2Sas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYM84n-2Sas
Concert on Thursday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m. at the Heritage Center in Cedar City.
More information on next blog entry or www.orchestraofsouthernutah.org
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| Photo by Bob Sharak looking down at Danube River in Budapest. |
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| Photo by Bob Sharak |
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| Parliament Building from Danube River |
Photos of Budapest by Des and Sara Penny, except as noted above.
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