Echo Rising Stars

Hungarian musician Áron Horváth began playing his country’s national instrument – the cimbalom – at the age of seven. He initially performed traditional Hungarian folk music, but over the years has broadened his scope to include both classical and jazz. In 2023, he was admitted to the prestigious Liszt Academy in Budapest to study classical cimbalom, and in the same year became a member of two prominent ensembles: Elán, which explores the folk music of Central and Eastern Europe, and Intergeese, a jazz trio performing original compositions.

At this concert, we meet the classical Áron Horváth – with a jazz twist. Hungarian composer László Sáry’s evocative and almost minimalist Lassú és friss (“Slow and Brisk”) is contrasted with a suite by Johann Sebastian Bach, originally written for solo cello. The concert also features a new work by British composer Charlotte Bray, whose music, according to The Telegraph, is characterised by “great beauty and emotional depth.” The programme concludes with a brand-new piece by Hungarian jazz musician Emma Nagy.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear the classical stars of tomorrow – today. Rising Stars is a unique and forward-looking collaboration between 23 of Europe’s leading concert halls, all part of the ECHO – European Concert Hall Organisation. Each year, a handful of young artists and ensembles from across the continent are selected to tour the network’s venues and meet international audiences. Time and again, Rising Stars artists have gone on to enjoy successful international careers. Áron Horváth is nominated by Müpa Budapest and the Wiener Konzerthaus.

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Menu: Potato and leek soup with chive oil. The soup is served with sourdough bread, crispbread, butter, mineral water/light beer, coffee/tea, and a piece of chocolate. Wine and beer available for purchase for those who wish.

All soups are lactose- and gluten-free. Please inform us of any special dietary requirements when booking.

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear the classical stars of tomorrow – today. Rising Stars is a unique and forward-looking collaboration between 23 of Europe’s leading concert halls, all part of ECHO – the European Concert Hall Organisation. Each year, a select group of young artists and ensembles from across Europe are given the chance to tour all of the venues and perform for international audiences. Time and again, the artists chosen for Rising Stars go on to enjoy internationally successful careers.

Here we meet Austrian cellist Valerie Fritz, nominated to Rising Stars by several concert halls: Elbphilharmonie & Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Bozar in Brussels, Casa da Música in Porto, Kölner Philharmonie, Konzerthaus Dortmund and Musikverein Wien.

Valerie Fritz sees herself as an explorer of her instrument. She approaches each work with curiosity, and her repertoire spans early music to contemporary works – often incorporating electronics. As a soloist and chamber musician, she has appeared at the Salzburg Festival and collaborated with composers such as Helmut Lachenmann, Georg Friedrich Haas and Thomas Larcher. She is a member of the award-winning Ensemble NAMES and performs regularly with Camerata Salzburg.

At this concert she is joined by distinguished German pianist Mario Häring, in a programme that includes a new work by Irish composer Jennifer Walshe.

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear the classical stars of tomorrow – today. Rising Stars is a unique and forward-looking collaboration between 23 of Europe’s leading concert halls, all part of ECHO – the European Concert Hall Organisation. Each year, a select group of young artists and ensembles from across Europe are given the opportunity to tour all of the venues and perform for international audiences. Time and again, the artists chosen for Rising Stars go on to enjoy internationally successful careers.

Maat Saxophone Quartet has been nominated by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, Casa da Música in Porto, and the Philharmonie de Paris. This Portuguese–Dutch quartet places strong emphasis on contemporary music and works closely with both composers and artists. The ensemble was formed in 2018 while its four members were studying at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, and has since won several awards – including Portugal’s most prestigious classical music competition, Prémio Jovens Músicos.

Though based in Amsterdam, all members originally hail from Portugal. On one of their three albums to date, the quartet combines traditional fado with contemporary art music. They have also received attention for their virtual production Metamorphosis, based on Franz Kafka’s novella. At this Rising Stars concert, the programme includes a new work by Serbian-American composer Aleksandra Vrebalov.

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear the classical stars of tomorrow – today. Rising Stars is a unique and forward-looking collaboration between 23 of Europe’s leading concert halls, all part of ECHO – the European Concert Hall Organisation. Each year, a select group of young artists and ensembles from across Europe are given the opportunity to tour all of the venues and perform for international audiences. Time and again, the artists chosen for Rising Stars go on to enjoy internationally successful careers.

Icelandic soprano (and visual artist) Álfheidur Erla Gudmundsdóttir has been nominated by Harpa in Reykjavík and Philharmonie Luxembourg. She moves effortlessly between musical genres, and a few years ago gained international attention with Poems – an album she created together with composer Viktor Orri Árnason, setting music to the words of Icelandic poets. She has also collaborated with acclaimed pianist Víkingur Ólafsson, and her performance Apparition was described by critics as “a unique and unforgettable artistic event.” Alongside her experimental work, she has also sung roles such as Papagena in Mozart’s The Magic Flute at the Staatsoper in Berlin and Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto at the opera in Basel.

In this concert, she performs – among other works – a new piece by Icelandic composer María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir. She is joined by Indian-American pianist Kunal Lahiry, a long-time collaborator who in recent seasons has performed at venues such as Wigmore Hall in London and Carnegie Hall in New York.