B F O
2025-26
Bud ape st Festival Orchestra
Classically different
Welcome
What
is truth? The meaning of the words of Pontius Pilate is increasingly dramatic today. As we are inundated by the internet, artificial intelligence, populism and everything else which influences rather than informs, it is increasingly difficult to believe words or images. Yet there is a burning need for reliable information.
Yuval Noah Harari says reality is that which exists. There may be attempts to inform us of reality in ways that are either true or false. There may be several truths which coexist: a glass from which we drink beer or water may be described as either a water glass or a beer glass. Both statements are true, but if we called it an ink pot, that information would be false. Fake news. Today, we live in a world of false and unreliable news. In this jungle, the role of an orchestra becomes even more significant, because there is trust between the audience and the orchestra: members of the audience feel that the orchestra does not lie. And I think that is in fact the case. You can still trust music. If we perform one of Beethoven’s symphonies, the orchestra provides true information about it to the audience. There may be differences in interpretation, with the performer highlighting various aspects of the composition – or, as it were, reality – and presenting Beethoven’s symphony from any number of different perspectives: but it can never play false notes simply to manipulate the audience. The orchestra is reliable.
And it is possible that in the future, this will be the function of a good orchestra. In the jungle of fake news, the orchestra will be the organization, the hub, from where one may receive true news. I would not be surprised if, in the future, good orchestras were to establish reliable, objective news agencies, provide consumer information and help find dependable professionals. Because the audience trusts its orchestra and knows that musicians tend not to mislead. Perhaps this kind of expansion of our activities is not yet necessary, however. For now, in any case, we will endeavor to play reliably and to present the truth. Anyone coming out to the Budapest Festival Orchestra’s concerts may trust us to do so.
Iván Fischer, Music Director
Dear Audience!
Classically
different When we hear the word classical, we tend to think of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven: not only were they outstanding composers of their age, but their music has also stood the test of time. “Classical", in addition to the values and traditions of the past, also incorporates concepts like “Classical", “extraordinary” and “exemplary". Or, as the poet Mihály Babits said of Vörösmarty, it may also be “a modern, feverish and impatient breakout, and a rebellion.”
The BFO delivers classical music to its audiences, but always does so with a fresh interpretation intended for the present. Music director Iván Fischer’s creative ideas, social sensitivity and momentum represent a standard to which the philosophy and image of the orchestra must also be readapted from time to time. In addition to expanding its circle of patrons and fans, the orchestra pays special attention to nurturing young musical talent and supporting the next generation. There is always something unexpected happening at the BFO’s concerts; the selection of the soloists, the transformation of the musicians into a choir, into chamber ensembles or into actors – all of these further elevate the already high standards the orchestra is known for.
The trends that define cultural life – such as social responsibility, sustainability, and improving standards of living – are natural parts of our day to day lives. It is such a joy to see the audience feels and understands this: our hope is that experiencing our music will make people more tolerant and more understanding towards one another.
With our new image and our rich selection of programs, the 2025–2026 season will see us continue to help the broadest range of our audience find the events that connect with them. Our goal is to use our pure musical sound and creative solutions to share with as many people as possible the liberating power of music and memorable moments that bring inner peace.
Orsolya Erdődy, Managing Director
TheIván Fischer made his own dream come true when he founded the
Budapest Festival Orchestra
in 1983 together with Zoltán Kocsis.
Thanks to its innovative approach to music and the uncompromising dedication of its musicians, the BFO has become the youngest ensemble to join the world’s top ten symphony orchestras. In addition to Budapest, the orchestra regularly performs in some of the most important concert venues of the international music scene and is also present on international streaming platforms. Since its inception, the BFO has been recognized by Gramophone, the prestigious British musical periodical, three times: in 1998 and 2007, the magazine’s professional panel of judges awarded the BFO the prize for the best recording, while in 2022, thanks to audience votes, it was named Orchestra of the Year.
The BFO’s most considerable successes are connected to Mahler: their recording of Symphony No. 1 was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2013.
As well as recording successes and acclaimed tours, the BFO has also made a name for itself internationally with its series of innovative concerts. The Autism-friendly Cocoa
orchestra
Concerts, the Surprise Concerts – appreciated also at the Proms in London –, informal Midnight Music performances geared towards young adults, open-air concerts in Budapest, and the free Community Weeks are all unique in their own ways. Another special feature of the orchestra is that its members regularly form a choir at their concerts.
Each year, the BFO, in collaboration with the Ivan Fischer Opera Company, Müpa Budapest, and the Vicenza Opera Festival, also stages an opera production. The performances have been invited to the Mostly Mozart Festival in New York, Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi, the Edinburgh International Festival and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg; in 2013, the Marriage of Figaro led the New York Magazine’s list of the best classical music events of the year. The Vicenza Opera Festival, founded by Iván Fischer, debuted in the fall of 2018 at the Teatro Olimpico.
In 2024, the European Orchestra Academy (EOA) has been founded by the collaboration of Iván Fischer, the Budapest Festival Orchestra and the European Youth Orchestra (EUYO).
BFO musicians
Fischer Iván
Conductor,
Music Director
Takács-Nagy Gábor
Principal Guest
Conductor
Violin
Major Tamás (concertmaster)
Daniel Bard (concertmaster)
Suyoen Kim (concertmaster)
Asztalos Bence
Biró Ágnes
Bodó Antónia
Bujtor Balázs
Czenke Csaba
Czirók Györgyi
Davide Dalpiaz
Eckhardt Violetta
Gál-Tamási Mária
Gátay Tibor
Gulyás Emese
Haják Krisztina
Hrib Radu
Illési Erika
Iván Tímea
Jász Pál
Kádár István
Kostyál Péter
Kovács Erika
Lesták Bedő Eszter
Lezsák Zsófia
Molnár Noémi
Mózes Anikó
Oláh Gyöngyvér
Pilz János
Sipos Gábor
Szabó Levente
Szefcsik Zsolt
Szlávik Zsuzsanna
Takácsné Nagy Gabriella
David Tobin
Tuska Zoltán
Birgit Katriin Born*
Lucrezia Costanzo*
Marta Dettlaff*
Kóbor Éva*
Alexey Stychkin*
Solvejg Wilding*
Viola
Gálfi Csaba
Gábor Ferenc
Bodolai Cecília
Bolyki László
Csoma Ágnes
Miguel Erlich
Fekete Zoltán
Juhász Barna
Polónyi István
Reinhardt Nikoletta
Yamamoto Nao
Barbora Butvydaite*
Hattie Joy Quick*
Cello
Szabó Péter
Dvorák Lajos
Eckhardt Éva
Alma Hernán Benedí Kertész György
Liptai Gabriella
Mahdi Kousay
Mód Orsolya
Sovány Rita
Alejandro Viana Herreros*
Double Bass
Fejérvári Zsolt
H. Zováthi Alajos
Brendan Kane
Kaszás Károly
Lévai László
Uxia Martinez Botana
Martos Attila
Naomi Shaham
Sipos Csaba
Puporka Jenő*
Flute
Pivon Gabriella
Jóföldi Anett
Nagy Bernadett
Oboe
Victor Aviat
Berger Márta
Berta Beáta
Clara Dent-Bogányi
Johannes Grosso
Eva Neuszerova
Marie-Noëlle Perreau
Clarinet
Ács Ákos
Andrea Caputo
Csalló Roland
Daniel Roscia
Szitka Rudolf
Bassoon
Bogányi Bence
Andrea Bressan
Duffek Mihály
Rapi Péter
Tallián Dániel
Ziv Wainer Bobrowitz*
Horn
Szőke Zoltán
Bereczky Dávid
Nagy Zsombor
Szabó András
Harangozó Máté*
Trumpet
Csikota Gergely
Czeglédi Zsolt
Póti Tamás
Trombone
Szakszon Balázs
Sztán Attila
Wagner Csaba
Yuval Wolfson
Janák Gergely Miklós*
Tuba
Bazsinka József
Keresztesi Bálint*
Harp
Polónyi Ágnes
Rosanna Rolton
Timpani
Dénes Roland
Torsten Schoenfeld
Percussion
Boris Boudinov
Fábry Boglárka
Hencz Kornél
Herboly László
Kurcsák István
Pusztai Gábor
Iris Van Den Bos
Keyboards, regular piano accompanists
Báll Dávid
Dinyés Soma
Mali Emese
Nagy László Adrián
Pétery Dóra * European Orchestra Academy
Concerts
Demonic Mozart
Mozart Schuen, Pisaroni, Bengtsson, Fischer
“Who I am you'll never know,” says the infamous womanizer, and he is right: The character of Don Giovanni has been inscrutable and fascinating for centuries. Should we empathize with him? Or condemn him? Or maybe both at the same time? He is a complex and fascinating character, who, with Lorenzo da Ponte's libretto and Mozart's music, presents an eternal and rewarding challenge for directors. This is not the first time that Iván Fischer has directed the opera: he is an expert on Don Giovanni both as a conductor and as a director. Once again, the cast will be amazing: artists from the world’s most prestigious opera houses, including several names and voices that BFO audiences will already know.
September
09 + 11–12
Müpa Budapest, Béla Bartók
National Concert Hall
09 Tuesday 7:00 p.m. Solti
11 Thursday 7:00 p.m. Doráti
12 Friday 7:00 p.m. Reiner
Andrè Schuen Don Giovanni
Luca Pisaroni Leporello
Maria Bengtsson Donna Anna
Miah Persson Donna Elvira
Giulia Semenzato Zerlina
Bernard Richter Don Ottavio
Daniel Noyola Masetto
Krisztián Cser Commendatore
Iván Fischer conductor and director
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Don Giovanni, K. 527
A joint production of the BFO, Müpa Budapest, the Ivan Fischer Opera Company and the Vicenza Opera Festival
Láng, Cser, Eva Duda Dance Company, Fischer
“Where is the stage? Outside or within?,” asks the Bard in the Prologue to Bluebeard's Castle. This dilemma appears in all three of Bartók’s one-act pieces – both works in this program, as well as the Wooden Prince –, because what we can see and hear is internal drama. The first of the musical lessons exploring the psyche of and relationship between man and woman is one of Bartók's most beloved works. The Miraculous Mandarin, with a plot that explores questions of the body and soul, will be brought to life by the Eva Duda Dance Company. After the interval, we will descend into the deepest recesses of the male soul: Krisztián Cser, who has been awarded the Hungarian Golden Cross of Merit, singing Bluebeard and internationally acclaimed Dorottya Láng in Judith’s role will open the seven most famous doors in the history of music.
September 19–20–21
Müpa Budapest, Béla Bartók
National Concert Hall
19 Friday 7:45 p.m. Solti
20 Saturday 7:45 p.m. Doráti, Kertész
21 Sunday 3:30 p.m. Storytime with Iván
Dorottya Láng Judith
Krisztián Cser Bluebeard
Eva Duda Dance Company
Iván Fischer conductor
Béla Bartók
The Miraculous Mandarin, Sz. 73, BB 82 – stage performance with the Eva Duda Dance Company; Bluebeard’s Castle, Sz. 48, BB 62
Elective Affinities
Earworm Alert
Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky Suwanai, Martín
Spanish conductor Jaime Martín, whose "infectious enjoyment of the music communicates to the orchestra and audience alike" according to a Telegraph reviewer, will return to lead the Festival Orchestra with Saint-Saëns’s most popular violin concerto and what Tchaikovsky considered his best symphonic music. The concert will pose some earworm alerts as both composers are famous for their catchy melodies, passionate phrases and emotions placed above formal requirements. The violin concerto composed by Saint-Saëns for Pablo de Sarasate will be performed by a Japanese virtuoso: the youngest winner in the history of the International Tchaikovsky Competition, Akiko Suwanai. She was last heard by the BFO’s audiences in 2022, when she played Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto.
October 04 + 06 – 07
Müpa Budapest, Béla Bartók
National Concert Hall
04 Saturday 3:30 p.m. Reiner
06 Monday 7:45 p.m. Doráti
07 Tuesday 7:45 p.m. Solti
Akiko Suwanai violin
Jaime Martín conductor
Camille Saint-Saëns
Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61
Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Manfred Symphony, Op. 58
In Menuhin’s Footsteps
Mozart, Haydn Sitkovetsky, Takács-Nagy
A musical caricature, a playful concerto, a solemn opera overture, and a surprisingly somber symphony – Gábor Takács-Nagy, who was awarded the Kossuth Prize in 2024, will return to the Festival Orchestra with a range of colors of Mozart and Haydn. A specialist of the composers, he believes in taking creative risks, so his performances are always fresh and original. The first half of the concert will be centered around mirth and mockery, and, of course, Alexander Sitkovetsky's playful performance. As a child, the excellent violinist studied with Menuhin; he is now the artistic director of NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra, Wrocław. Following the BFO's concert for peace in August 2024, Hungarian audiences can once again enjoy him performing on his Stradivarius made in 1679. After the interval, the concert will continue with a Mozart overture and then one of Haydn’s London Symphonies, probably composed in tribute to his late colleague.
October 17–18–19
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
17 Friday 7:45 p.m. Ormándy
18 Saturday 7:45 p.m. Kertész
19 Sunday 3:30 p.m. Fricsay
Alexander Sitkovetsky violin
Gábor Takács-Nagy conductor
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
A Musical Joke, K. 522
Joseph Haydn
Violin Concerto No. 3 in A major, Hob.VIIa:3
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
La clemenza di Tito, K. 621 – Overture
Joseph Haydn
Symphony No. 98 in B-flat major,, Hob. I:98
Beethoven, R. Strauss
Ibragimova,
Fischer
Two composers whose oeuvres span the boundaries of musical eras, a grandiose violin concerto and a monumental-sounding ballet are offered in the BFO’s program. The soloist in Beethoven's only violin concerto will be Alina Ibragimova, who is equally at home on period and modern instruments and has a repertoire ranging from Baroque to brand new works. A reviewer in The Guardian praised her direct and honest performances. Hungarian audiences may be familiar with the sound of her 1775 Anselmo Bellosio violin not only from her award-winning recordings: In 2022, Ibragimova performed Prokofiev’s concerto with the Budapest Festival Orchestra. This time, it will be the “emperor of all violin concertos”. After the interval, a curiosity, Richard Strauss's first completed ballet score, Josephslegende (The Legend of Joseph) will be performed, telling the biblical story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife.
November 07–08–09
Müpa Budapest, Béla Bartók
National Concert Hall
07 Friday 7:45 p.m. Solti
08 Saturday 7:45 p.m. Doráti
09 Sunday 3:30 p.m. Reiner, Storytime with Iván
Alina Ibragimova violin
Iván Fischer conductor
Ludwig van Beethoven
Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61
Richard Strauss
Josephslegende, Op. 63.
The Empress of Violin Concertos
A Network of Musical Periods
Handel, C. P. E. Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn Jóföldi, Pilz
Continuing traditions, new colors, child prodigy and experienced composers at the fall Concertino concert! This time again, János Pilz has chosen pieces connected in many ways for the program of BFO's string orchestra series. They range from the Baroque to the Romantic periods, with the composers, styles and forms evoked constantly alluding to each other - back and forth. First Handel paying tribute to Corelli will be followed by C.P.E. Bach, who emerged from his father's shadow with his bold innovations. The second half of the concert will feature an Italianate composition by the sixteen-year-old Mozart and a work by the thirteenyear-old Mendelssohn, who could brilliantly compose in the style of Mozart. It has now almost become a tradition that the soloist for the concerto in the program will be the winner of the orchestra’s Sándor Végh Competition, and Anett Jóföldi is the proud owner of four such prizes.
November 24–25
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
24 Monday 7:45 p.m. Ormándy
25 Tuesday 7:45 p.m. Kertész
Anett Jóföldi flute
János Pilz concertmaster
Georg Friedrich Handel
Concerto Grosso in F major, Op. 6, No. 9, HWV 327
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Flute Concerto in D minor, H. 484/1, Wq 22
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Divertimento No. 1 in D major, K. 136
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
String Symphony No. 8 in D major, MWV N 8
Ligeti, Ginastera, Nielsen Maistre, Robertson
The concert conducted by the Grammy Award-winning ambassador of 20th and 21st century music will span several continents. David Robertson is not only renowned for creating a good atmosphere between himself and the orchestras he works with, his outstanding musicality and his clean gestures, but also for his imaginative, adventurous and exciting programs. The Director of Conducting Studies at the Juilliard School will open his concert with a short but enlightening and entertaining piece from Ligeti's student years and close the first half with one of the most-performed concertos in the harp repertoire, the Argentinian Ginastera’s Harp Concerto. Xavier de Maistre, the soloist of the evening is “capable of realizing a remarkable range of nuance”, according to Gramophone. The concert will conclude with a heroic struggle composed into a symphony, á la Nielsen.
December 02– 03 + 06
Müpa Budapest, Béla Bartók
National Concert Hall
02 Tuesday 7:45 p.m. Doráti
03 Wednesday 7:45 p.m. Solti
06 Saturday 3:30 p.m. Reiner
Xavier de Maistre harp
David Robertson conductor
György Ligeti
Mifiso la sodo
Alberto Ginastera
Harp Concerto, Op. 25.
Carl Nielsen
Symphony No. 4 (“The Inextinguishable”), Op. 29
Modern Colors
Festive Gift
Bach Fischer
Star singers, a world-class choir and the best-known holiday masterpiece – some of what the BFO has in store for its traditional Christmas concert. The program is no secret this time and features four cantatas from Bach’s oratorio, including the first, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and the final cantata, exalting the power of the Lord. Julian Prégardien, a sought-after tenor for performances of Bach’s Passions, will take the stage in the role of the Evangelist, articulating the lyrics in his crystal-clear voice. Julia Lezhneva, often described by critics with the terms acrobatic and magical, will sing the soprano part in her angelic voice. Also on stage will be Olivia Vermeulen, whose voice stops even time itself and has been described as “clear as a bell". The audience will also have the pleasure of hearing the flexible baritone of Hanno Müller-Brachmann.
The choir movements will be performed by the Collegium Vocale Gent founded by the legendary Philippe Herreweghe.
December 26
Budapest Congress Center
26 Friday 7:45 p.m.
Julian Prégardien tenor
Julia Lezhneva soprano
Olivia Vermeulen mezzo-soprano
Hanno Müller-Brachmann
bass-baritone
Collegium Vocale Gent
Philippe Herreweghe
choirmaster
Iván Fischer conductor
Johann Sebastian Bach
Christmas Oratorio
– Cantatas 1, 2, 3 and 6, BWV 248
The ticket sale for the Christmas Concert starts on August 26, 2025 at 10.00 a.m.
Mendelssohn, Widmann, Schumann
C. Widmann, J. Widmann
Jörg Widmann is a musical polymath par excellence. He is not only one of the greatest living masters of his instrument, the clarinet, but also an excellent composer, orchestrator and conductor. His compositions are palatable, entertaining, thought-provoking and inventive. His programs are harmonious and carefully selected. He often juxtaposes his own pieces with compositions of Mendelssohn or Schumann – this time, a work by each of those composers will frame Widmann’s two pieces. The personal character of the evening will be further enhanced by the short solo performance of the clarinetist after the first half, and before the interval, the soloist of the composer’s violin concerto will be his sister, Bavarian State Prize winner Carolin Widmann, to whom it is dedicated. The music depicting the bleak Scottish landscape and Widmann’s novel sounds will be resolved by Robert Schumann’s joyous composition, conjuring spring.
January 16 + 18 –19
Müpa Budapest, Béla Bartók
National Concert Hall
16 Friday 7:45 p.m. Doráti, Kertész
18 Sunday 3:30 p.m. Reiner, Széll
19 Monday 7:45 p.m. Solti
Carolin Widmann violin
Jörg Widmann clarinet and conductor
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
The Hebrides – Overture (Fingal’s Cave), Op. 26
Jörg Widmann
Violin Concerto No. 2; Fantasie for Clarinet
Robert Schumann
Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major (“Spring”), Op. 38
Doubling up
Bach and Co.
J. C. Bach, J. S. Bach, C. P. E. Bach, W. F. Bach
Chauvin
Those attending the early music concert of the BFO’s ensemble playing historical instruments will be able to enjoy an extraordinary father and son event. There will be an abundance of talented members of the Bach family in the program. Audiences can hear two compositions by the father of Baroque masterpieces, Johann Sebastian: the Brandenburg concerto composed for strings only and a reconstructed violin Concerto. The concert will open with a piece by Bach’s youngest son and eighteenth child, Johann Christian, also known as the London or Milan Bach, and end with two symphonies composed by two of his older offspring: his second son Carl Philipp Emanuel, also known as the Hamburg Bach, and his elder brother, Wilhelm Friedemann. All this will be under the direction of violinist Julien Chauvin, known for his authentic and passionate Baroque performances.
January 24–25
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
24 Saturday 7:45 p.m. Ormándy
25 Sunday 3:30 p.m. Fricsay
Julien Chauvin artistic director and Baroque violin
Johann Christian Bach Symphony in G minor, Op. 6, No. 6, W. C12
Johann Sebastian Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048; Violin Concerto in G minor, BWV 1056R
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Symphony in C major, H. 649, Wq. 174
Wilhelm Friedemann Bach Symphony in F major (“Dissonant"), F. 67
Mahler
Romberger, Cantemus, Fischer
“One is only an instrument played by the universe. A symphony must be like the world. It must embrace everything,” said Mahler, and this closeness to nature seems most manifest in his Symphony No. 3. The last time that the longest symphony in the history of music was performed by Mahler specialist Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra was ten years ago. On that occasion, the solo of the six-movement philosophical composition was sung by fascinating concert singer Gerhild Romberger, who will now return to Budapest after Paris and Monte Carlo, among other venues, to be once again the heroine of the piece’s “human” movement. The angels will be sung by two choirs that have been awarded the Hungarian Heritage Prize and the Bartók-Pásztory Prize, the Pro Musica Girls' Choir founded by Liszt and Kossuth Prize winner Dénes Szabó and the Cantemus Children’s Choir.
January 31 + February 01– 02
Müpa Budapest, Béla Bartók National Concert Hall
31 Saturday 7:45 p.m. Doráti
01 Sunday 3:30 p.m. Reiner, Storytime with Iván
02 Monday 7:45 p.m. Solti
Gerhild Romberger alto Cantemus Choir Nyíregyháza
Dénes Szabó choirmaster
Iván Fischer conductor
Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 3 in D minor
Heavenly voices
Mozart, Haydn, Veress Altstaedt
The Musical world of Munich, the Esterhazy Court and Transylvania; Viennese classicism and the 20th century in Hungary; opera, concerto, dance and symphony – all this will be on offer at this surprisingly passionate concert. Surprising in that the next time Mozart composes with the emotional heat of the music in Idomeneo will be in Don Giovanni, Haydn foreshadows the 19th century with his little-known dramatic symphony, and Veress evokes his country's emblematic dance styles in a historically charged period contemplating the horrors of the Second World War. The orchestra will be led by Nicolas Altstaedt, described by a writer for Hamburger Abendblatt as an “individual category" in his field; a fiery and bold cellist, a master of extremes, warm tones and direct communication with astonishing technical prowess.
February 27–28 + March 01
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
27 Friday 7:45 p.m. Ormándy
28 Saturday 7:45 p.m. Széll
01 Sunday 3:30 p.m. Fricsay
Nicolas Altstaedt
artistic director and cello
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Idomeneo – Overture and Ballet Music, K. 366 and K. 367
Joseph Haydn
Cello Concerto No. 1
in C major, Hob. VIIb:1
Sándor Veress
Four Transylvanian Dances
Joseph Haydn
Symphony No. 80 in D minor, Hob. I:80
Classic Passion
Rejuvenating Vitality
Szűcs, Takács-Nagy
“Whenever I play Haydn or Mozart with the Budapest Festival Orchestra, I feel as though I become younger,” says Gábor Takács-Nagy. This time, he will take and administer only one of the two composers whose music he considers spiritual medicine, but in triple dosage. The program of the concert draws an arc from Mozart, the young genius, through the last completed work of the mature composer to a divertimento spanning half of the evening. The opening piece performed only by strings will be followed by the familiar tunes of the Concerto for Clarinet, but this time on viola. The solo part will be played by Máté Szűcs, former principal violist of the Berlin Philharmonic and currently professor at the Geneva University of Music. The concert will conclude with a composition for which the conductor's words are absolutely true: “It has an incredible amount of positive energy and vitality.”
March 13–14–15
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
13 Friday 7:45 p.m. Ormándy
14 Saturday 7:45 p.m. Kertész, Széll
15 Sunday 3:30 p.m. Fricsay
Máté Szűcs viola
Gábor Takács-Nagy conductor
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Divertimento No. 3 in F major, K. 138; Clarinet Concerto in A major – viola version, K. 622; Divertimento No. 15 in B-flat major, K. 287
Life-OeuvrePinnacle
Bruckner Janowski
Anton Bruckner’s music is often compared to a Gothic cathedral that listeners can walk around and admire from every corner. Upon entering, they can marvel at the fascinating structure of arches and buttresses or immerse themselves in the world of richly ornamented rose windows, sculptures and carvings. Cathedrals are permanent and unchangeable, but no matter where you stand, you can always explore something new. Bruckner’s Symphony No. 5 is just like that. The monumental composition, which fills an entire concert night, can be analyzed endlessly, but it remains an unforgettable experience for anyone who just sits back and enjoys the flowing music full of surprising twists and turns. Marek Janowski, the Budapest Festival Orchestra’s returning guest conductor, is over 86 years old, but, as a reviewer put it, is still as precise as “a surgeon with a conductor’s baton”.
April 16–17–18
Müpa Budapest, Béla Bartók
National Concert Hall
16 Thursday 7:45 p.m. Solti
17 Friday 7:45 p.m. Doráti, Kertész
18 Saturday 3:30 p.m. Reiner, Széll
Marek Janowski conductor
Anton Bruckner Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, WAB 105
Intoxicating Baroque
Vivaldi, Pergolesi, Boccherini, Galuppi, Mozart, Jommelli Binon, Malov, T’Hooft
A very special instrument, musical curiosities, a beautiful voice and Baroque gestures – all this will be on offer at the concert of the Budapest Festival Orchestra’s historic ensemble. This time, the musicians playing period instruments will be led by Russian-Hungarian Sergey Malov. He plays not only the modern violin, the viola and the Baroque violin, but also the violoncello da spalla, which is a small cello played against the shoulder. The other unique instrument will be Lore Binon: the young soprano considers herself a musical instrument, exhibiting, according to reviewers, a breathtaking voice. The historical atmosphere will be visually enhanced by Sigrid T'Hooft, one of the foremost experts on Baroque gesture.
April 25–26
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
25 Saturday 7:45 p.m. Ormándy
26 Sunday 3:30 p.m. Fricsay
Lore Binon soprano
Sergey Malov
artistic director,
Baroque violin and violoncello da spalla
Sigrid T’Hooft
Baroque gesture
Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto for Strings in C major, RV 114
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
Orfeo – Cantata, P. 115
Luigi Boccherini
Cello Concerto No. 6 in D major, G. 479
Baldassare Galuppi
Concerto Grosso No. 4 in C minor
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Divertimento No. 2 in B-flat major, K. 137
Niccolò Jommelli
Didone abbandonata – Cantata
Schumann, Wagner Kampe, Müller-Brachmann, Fischer
The BFO takes a musical trip to the banks and into the depths of the Rhine when offering Schumann’s symphony inspired by some pleasant experiences and a Wagner scene. The former commemorates a peaceful riverside excursion to the Rhine, and the latter is one of the most famous scenes from the monumental opera tetralogy, The Ring of the Nibelung. The concert will feature two outstanding German singers in the roles of Brünnhilde and Wotan. Anja Kampe has sung Brünnhilde in a number of major opera houses from Vienna to Berlin to Sydney. Her recording of Die Walküre received the ECHO Klassik award in 2013 for best opera album of the year. In the role of the leader of the gods, audiences can welcome the return of Hanno Müller-Brachmann, who was described by a New York Times reviewer as “a singer with a firm, dark and exciting voice”.
May
15–16 + 18
Müpa Budapest, Béla Bartók
National Concert Hall
15 Friday 7:45 p.m. Doráti
16 Saturday 3:30 p.m.
Storytime with Iván
18 Monday 7:45 p.m. Solti, Széll
Anja Kampe soprano
Hanno Müller-Brachmann
bass-baritone
Iván Fischer conductor
Robert Schumann
Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major (“Rhenish”), Op. 97
Richard Wagner
Die Walküre – Wotan's Farewell and Magic Fire Music
Rhenish Sounds
C. P. E. Bach, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Shostakovich, Beethoven Kádár, Bard
Long wanderings in minor keys, youthful pieces, last compositions, composers at the boundaries of musical eras – the Budapest Festival Orchestra will close its season in Hungary with a highly colorful program spanning several centuries. This time again, the Concertino series offers some of the most diverse works composed for strings. After a symphony by Bach’s son, who foreshadowed the classical era, the violin concerto by a 13-year-old Mendelssohn will be performed. The soloist in the latter will be István Kádár, five-time winner of the BFO’s Sándor Végh Competition, who won for the first time in 2004 with this very piece. After the interval, the program will continue with one of the few minor key compositions by Mozart, followed by Shostakovich’s Quartet No. 8. arranged for a string orchestra. The concert, led by BFO concertmaster Daniel Bard, will end with a movement in one of the last compositions of Beethoven.
June 05–06
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
05 Friday 7:45 p.m. Ormándy
06 Saturday 3:30 p.m. Fricsay
István Kádár violin
Daniel Bard concertmaster
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Symphony No. 5 in B minor (“Hamburg”), H. 661, Wq. 182/5
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Violin Concerto in D minor, MWV O 3
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Adagio and Fugue in C minor, K. 546
Dmitri Shostakovich
Chamber Symphony in C Minor, Op. 110a
Ludwig van Beethoven
String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat major
– Cavatina, Op. 130
Midnight Music
Will you come at midnight and listen to some classical music while lounging on a beanbag, just an arm’s length from the musicians? This question might have sounded weird ten years ago, but, thanks to the Budapest Festival Orchestra, Midnight Music has since become one of the best and most popular programs for those who have a keen interest in culture but don’t like the constraints at traditional concerts. There is no need to dress up, and these concerts won’t last for hours; instead, you can enjoy the friendly, relaxed atmosphere, made even more personable by Iván Fischer’s witty comments about the pieces being performed. A community event, a party instead of a party, a memorable experience – who said classical music was boring and rigid?
Saturday 11:30 p.m.
Iván Fischer September 20
Saturday 11:30 p.m.
Castle Garden Bazaar
Castle Garden Bazaar
Iván Fischer November 08
Friday 11:30 p.m.
Castle Garden Bazaar
Iván Fischer May 15
Cocoa Concerts
For almost a quarter of a century, the Budapest Festival Orchestra’s program series for children has brought a high-quality classical musical experience to the youngest. The orchestra’s rehearsal hall not only serves experimenting with the tiniest details of the symphonic pieces to be performed, or playing chamber music, but also as the venue for educating the next generation of classical music lovers. There is no better promotion of these events than the fact that several members of the BFO’s loyal audiences came to love music at these Cocoa Concerts, with a polka-dot mug in their hands. And nowadays, they bring their own kids. While listening to the performance of the orchestra’s excellent musicians in a cozy atmosphere, the audience will learn about the instruments of the symphony orchestra and concert etiquette in a playful and interactive manner. After the concert, the kids can have a mug of cocoa in the lobby.
Saturday
2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
BFO Rehearsal Hall
Erika Illési October 11
March 07
Saturday
2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
BFO Rehearsal Hall
Erika Illési
December 07
Sunday
2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
BFO Rehearsal Hall
Erika Illési
Saturday
Sunday
2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
BFO Rehearsal Hall
Iván Fischer May 17
2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
BFO Rehearsal Hall
Erika Illési January 10
Chamber music
Sunday Chamber Music 2025
October 12
Haydn, Beethoven, Arensky
BFO Rehearsal Hall, 5:00 p.m.
Joseph Haydn
String Quartet in G major, Hob.III:81
János Pilz violin
Anikó Mózes violin
Zita Zárbok viola
György Kertész cello
Ludwig van Beethoven
Serenade in D major, Op. 25
Gabriella Pivon flute
Tímea Iván violin
Barna Juhász viola
Anton Arensky
Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 32
Mária Gál-Tamási violin
Gabriella Liptai cello
János Palojtay piano
November 23
Volkmann, Arnold, Schreker, Zemlinsky
BFO Rehearsal Hall, 5:00 p.m.
Robert Volkmann
Piano Trio No. 1, Op. 3
Noémi Molnár piano
Gabriella Liptai cello
Emese Mali piano
Malcolm Arnold
Brass Quintet No. 1, Op. 73
Gergely Csikota trumpet
Tamás Póti trumpet
Zoltán Szőke horn
Balázs Szakszon trombone
József Bazsinka tuba
Franz Schreker
Der Wind
Violetta Eckhardt violin
Rita Sovány cello
Ákos Ács clarinet
Zoltán Szőke horn
Emese Mali piano
Alexander von Zemlinsky
Clarinet Trio, Op. 3
Roland Csalló clarinet
Péter Szabó cello
Dávid Báll piano
2026
January 04
Hoffmeister, Dvořák, Bridge, Nielsen
BFO Rehearsal Hall, 5:00 p.m.
Franz Anton Hoffmeister
Duet for Flute and Violin in G major
Anett Jóföldi flute
Anikó Mózes violin
Antonín Dvořák
Romantic Pieces, Op. 75
Erika Illési violin
Dávid Báll piano
Frank Bridge
Phantasy for Piano Quartet, H. 94
Zsófia Lezsák violin
Krisztina Haják viola
Rita Sovány cello
Emese Mali piano
Carl Nielsen
Wind Quintet, Op. 43
Kata Scheuring flute
Beáta Berta oboe
Roland Csalló clarinet
Dániel Tallián bassoon
Dávid Bereczky horn
February 22
Milhaud, Hummel, Schubert
BFO Rehearsal Hall, 5:00 p.m.
Darius Milhaud
Sonata for Two Violins
and Piano, Op. 15
Violetta Eckhardt violin
Gyöngyvér Oláh violin
Emese Mali piano
Johann Nepomuk Hummel
Piano Quintet, Op. 87
Zsolt Szefcsik violin
István Polónyi viola
Gabriella Liptai cello
Attila Martos double bass
Gábor Monostori piano
Franz Schubert
String Quintet, D. 956
Zsófia Lezsák violin
Noémi Molnár violin
Zita Zárbok viola
Rita Sovány cello
Lajos Dvorák cello
Sunday Chamber Music 2026
April
12
Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Bartók, Desenclos, Kahn
BFO Rehearsal Hall, 5:00 p.m.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Trio in E-flat major (“Kegelstatt”), K. 498
Roland Csalló clarinet
Gábor Sipos viola
Emese Mali piano
Sergei Rachmaninoff
String Quartet No. 1
István Kádár violin
Erika Illési violin
Gábor Sipos viola
Rita Sovány cello
Béla Bartók
Three Rondos on Slovak Folk Tunes –
Andante, Sz. 64., BB 92;
Sonatina, Sz. 55, BB 69; For Children – excerpts, Sz. 42, BB 53
(transcript by Attila Martos)
Péter Kostyál violin
Emese Gulyás violin
Zoltán Fekete viola
Attila Martos double bass
Alfred Desenclos
Suite brève dans le goût classique
József Bazsinka tuba
Irina Ivanitskaya piano
Robert Kahn
Quintet, Op. 54
Pál Jász violin
Gabriella Liptai cello
Rudolf Szitka clarinet
Dávid Bereczky horn
Emese Mali piano
Music of the Future – Contemporary Chamber Music 2026
January 11
Schulhoff, Kovács, Könczei, Arnold, Petrovics
BFO Rehearsal Hall, 5:00 p.m.
Erwin Schulhoff
Duo for Violin and Cello, WV 74
Tímea Iván violin
Péter Szabó cello
Zoltán Kovács
Flute Quintet
Gabriella Pivon flute
István Kádár violin
Gábor Sipos viola
Rita Sovány cello
Zsolt Fejérvári double bass
Árpád Könczei
Violin Duos No. 2
Mária Gál-Tamási violin
Erika Illési violin
Malcolm Arnold
Divertimento, Op. 37
Anett Jóföldi flute
Dent-Bogányi oboe
Roland Csalló clarinet
Emil Petrovics
Cassazione per quintetto d’ottoni
Gergely Csikota trumpet
Tamás Póti trumpet
Zoltán Szőke horn
Balázs Szakszon trombone
József Bazsinka tuba
Back to Nature – Chamber Music on Period Instruments 2026
March 08
Machaut, Matteis, Pandolfi Mealli, Cazzati, Cavalli, Telemann, Vivaldi, Valentine
BFO Rehearsal Hall, 5:00 p.m.
Songs from the 12-13th century
Ecce tempus gaudii;
Quant voi la flor novele;
Non sofre Santa Maria (Cantigas de Santa Maria, No. 159)
Éva Bodrogi soprano
Gyöngyvér Oláh Gothic harp
László Herboly percussion
Dóra Pétery organetto
Guillaume de Machaut
De toutes flours (Ballades, No. 31)
János Bali recorder
Gyöngyvér Oláh Gothic harp
Igor Davidovics lute
Nicola Matteis
Diverse bizzarrie sopra la vecchia
sarabanda o pur ciaccona
Gabriella Takácsné Nagy
Baroque violin
Rita Sovány viola da gamba
Ágnes Polónyi arpa doppia
Igor Davidovics Baroque guitar
Dóra Pétery harpsichord
Giovanni Antonio Pandolfi Mealli
La spata fora
Gyöngyvér Oláh Baroque violin
Gabriella Takácsné Nagy
Baroque violin
Csaba Sipos Baroque double bass
Ágnes Polónyi arpa doppia
László Herboly percussion
Dóra Pétery harpsichord
Maurizio Cazzati
Trattenimenti per camera
- Passacaglia, Op. 22
Gyöngyvér Oláh Baroque violin
Gabriella Nagy Baroque violin
Csaba Sipos Baroque double bass
Ágnes Polónyi arpa doppia
Davidovics Igor theorbo
László Herboly percussion
Dóra Pétery organ
Francesco Cavalli
“Piante ombrose”, “Restino imbalsamate”
– two arias from La Calisto
Éva Bodrogi soprano
Gyöngyvér Oláh Baroque violin
Emese Gulyás Baroque violin
György Kertész Baroque cello
Rita Sovány viola da gamba
Csaba Sipos Baroque double bass
Igor Davidovics theorbo
Ágnes Polónyi arpa doppia
László Herboly percussion
Dóra Pétery organ
Georg Philipp Telemann
Trio Sonata in E-flat major, TWV 42:Es1
János Pilz Baroque violin
Anikó Mózes Baroque violin
György Kertész Baroque cello
Judit Varga harpsichord
Antonio Vivaldi
Trio Sonata in D minor
(“La Follia”), RV 63
János Pilz Baroque violin
Anikó Mózes Baroque violin
György Kertész Baroque cello
Judit Varga harpsichord
Robert Valentine
Recorder Concerto in B-flat major
János Bali recorder
Gyöngyvér Oláh Baroque violin
Emese Gulyás Baroque violin
György Kertész Baroque cello
Csaba Sipos Baroque double bass
Igor Davidovics theorbo
Dóra Pétery harpsichord
Concert calendar
2025 September
09
Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mozart: Don Giovanni
Schuen, Pisaroni, Bengtsson, Fischer Solti
11
Thursday 7:00 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mozart: Don Giovanni
Schuen, Pisaroni, Bengtsson, Fischer Doráti
12
Friday 7:00 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mozart: Don Giovanni
Schuen, Pisaroni, Bengtsson, Fischer Reiner
19
Friday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest Bartók
Láng, Cser, Eva Duda
Dance Company, Fischer Solti
20
Saturday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest Bartók
Láng, Cser, Eva Duda
Dance Company, Fischer Doráti, Kertész
20
Saturday 11:30 p.m. Castle Garden Bazaar
Midnight Music Fischer 21
Sunday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Bartók
Láng, Cser, Eva Duda
Dance Company, Fischer Storytime with Iván
October
04
Saturday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky
Suwanai, Martín Reiner
06
Monday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky
Suwanai, Martín Doráti
07
Tuesday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky
Suwanai, Martín Solti
11
Saturday 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
BFO Rehearsal Hall
Cocoa Concert
Illési
12
Sunday 5:00 p.m., BFO Rehearsal Hall
Sunday Chamber Music
17
Friday 7:45 p.m., Liszt Academy
Mozart, Haydn
Sitkovetsky, Takács-Nagy
Ormándy
18
Saturday 7:45 p.m., Liszt Academy
Mozart, Haydn
Sitkovetsky, Takács-Nagy
Kertész
19
Sunday 3:30 p.m., Liszt Academy
Mozart, Haydn
Sitkovetsky, Takács-Nagy
Fricsay November
07
Friday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Beethoven, R. Strauss
Ibragimova, Fischer
Solti
08
Saturday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Beethoven, R. Strauss
Ibragimova, Fischer
Doráti
08
Saturday 11:30 p.m.
Castle Garden Bazaar
Midnight Music
Fischer 09
Sunday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Beethoven, R. Strauss
Ibragimova, Fischer
Reiner, Storytime with Iván
23
Sunday 5:00 p.m., BFO Rehearsal Hall
Sunday Chamber Music
24
Monday 7:45 p.m., Liszt Academy
Handel, C. P. E. Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn
Jóföldi, Pilz
Ormándy
25
Tuesday 7:45 p.m., Liszt Academy
Handel, C. P. E. Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn
Jóföldi, Pilz
Kertész
December
02
Tuesday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Ligeti, Ginastera, Nielsen
Maistre, Robertson
Doráti
03
Wednesday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Ligeti, Ginastera, Nielsen
Maistre, Robertson
Solti
06
Saturday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Ligeti, Ginastera, Nielsen
Maistre, Robertson
Reiner
07
Sunday 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
BFO Rehearsal Hall
Cocoa Concert
Illési
26
Friday 7:45 p.m.
Budapest Congress Center
J. S. Bach
Fischer
January 04
Sunday 5:00 p.m., BFO Rehearsal Hall
Sunday Chamber Music 10
Saturday 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
BFO Rehearsal Hall
Cocoa Concert Illési
11
Sunday 5:00 p.m., BFO Rehearsal Hall
Music of the Future –Contemporary Chamber Music
16
Friday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mendelssohn, Widmann, Schumann
C. Widmann, J. Widmann
Doráti, Kertész
18
Sunday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mendelssohn, Widmann, Schumann
C. Widmann, J. Widmann
Reiner, Széll
19
Monday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mendelssohn, Widmann, Schumann
C. Widmann, J. Widmann
Solti
24
Saturday 7:45 p.m., Liszt Academy
J. C. Bach, J. S. Bach,
C. P. E. Bach, W. F. Bach
Chauvin
Ormándy
25
Sunday 3:30 p.m., Liszt Academy
J. C. Bach, J. S. Bach, C. P. E. Bach, W. F. Bach
Chauvin
Fricsay
31
Saturday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mahler
Romberger, Cantemus, Fischer
Doráti February
01
Sunday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mahler
Romberger, Cantemus, Fischer
Reiner, Storytime with Iván
02
Monday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mahler
Romberger, Cantemus, Fischer
Solti
22
Sunday 5:00 p.m., BFO Rehearsal Hall Sunday Chamber Music
27
Friday 7:45 p.m., Liszt Academy
Mozart, Haydn, Veress
Altstaedt
Ormándy
28
Saturday 7:45 p.m., Liszt Academy
Mozart, Haydn, Veress
Altstaedt
Széll
2026
March
01
Sunday 3:30 p.m., Liszt Academy
Mozart, Haydn, Veress
Altstaedt
Fricsay
07
Saturday 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
BFO Rehearsal Hall
Cocoa Concert
Illési
08
Sunday 5:00 p.m., BFO Rehearsal Hall
Back to Nature – Chamber Music on Period Instruments
13
Friday 7:45 p.m., Liszt Academy
Mozart
Szűcs, Takács-Nagy
Ormándy
14
Saturday 7:45 p.m., Liszt Academy
Mozart
Szűcs, Takács-Nagy
Kertész, Széll
15
Sunday 3:30 p.m., Liszt Academy
Mozart
Szűcs, Takács-Nagy
Fricsay April
12
Sunday 5:00 p.m., BFO Rehearsal Hall
Sunday Chamber Music
16
Thursday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Bruckner
Janowski
Solti
17
Friday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Bruckner
Janowski
Doráti, Kertész
18
Saturday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Bruckner
Janowski
Reiner, Széll
25
Saturday 7:45 p.m., Liszt Academy
Vivaldi, Pergolesi, Boccherini, Galuppi, Mozart, Jommelli
Binon, Malov, T’Hooft
Ormándy
26
Sunday 3:30 p.m., Liszt Academy
Vivaldi, Pergolesi, Boccherini, Galuppi, Mozart, Jommelli
Binon, Malov, T’Hooft
Fricsay
May
15
Friday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Schumann, Wagner
Kampe, Müller-Brachmann, Fischer
Doráti
15
Friday 11:30 p.m.
Castle Garden Bazaar
Midnight Music
Fischer
16
Saturday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Schumann, Wagner
Kampe, Müller-Brachmann, Fischer
Storytime with Iván
17
Sunday 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
BFO Rehearsal Hall
Cocoa Concert
Fischer
18
Monday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Schumann, Wagner
Kampe, Müller-Brachmann, Fischer
Solti, Széll
June
05
Friday 7:45 p.m., Liszt Academy
C. P. E. Bach, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Sosztakovics, Beethoven
Kádár, Bard
Ormándy
06
Saturday 3:30 p.m., Liszt Academy
C. P. E. Bach, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Sosztakovics, Beethoven
Kádár, Bard
Fricsay
�EOUANS
EMPOWERING TRANSITION ENERGIAHATÉKONYSÁGI
WWW.EQUANS.HU
EGÉSZSÉG ÉS MŰVÉSZET TELJES HARMÓNIÁBAN
EGÉSZSÉGMEGŐRZŐ PROGRAMOK
Kapcsolat + 36 1 553 3333
Cím 1025 Budapest, Törökvész út 87-91.
Individual giving
BFO Patrons
“Beyond the value of symphonic music, to us BFO also means an exemplary, humanist, European community with shared values. To feel that we belong there makes our souls happy,” wrote one member of the BFO Patrons circle.
Season pass early purchase, visits to open rehearsals, club events and excursions, private dinners and gatherings, participation in tours, meeting our musicians and Iván Fischer in person, VIP services: BFO Patrons have so many benefits and exclusive offers to look forward to, in addition to world-class musical experiences. Become a member of the BFO’s happy family! For more information, please contact Zsuzsanna Deák (Conductor's Circle and Benefactors POC) or Zselyke Tófalvi (Patrons and Fellows POC) at tamogatoiklub@bfz.hu, or visit https://bfz.hu/en/support-us/ bfo-patrons/.
Annual membership fees
Fellow: Patrons:
You can find a list of the discounts for each membership level on bfz.hu/family.
BFO
Patrons' ambassadors
Let us introduce the ambassadors of BFO Patrons, our loyal friends, who have not only supported the Budapest Festival Orchestra for several years but are also committed to helping us with their expertise and advice. As Iván Fischer puts it, BFO Patrons are the happiest family in Hungary. Our ambassadors are dedicated to continuously extending this cohesive circle and offering them fascinating events and musical programs. They help BFO Patrons to get to know each other while representing our orchestra all over the world.
Dénes Andrea Marschall Miklós
Martin Csilla
Mogyorós Gábor
Rényi Andrea
The Conductor's Circle
Members of the Conductor’s Circle are the most committed friends of the BFO, who play a key role in laying the foundations of the future of the Budapest Festival Orchestra. They stand by Iván Fischer and the BFO at important moments in both Hungary and international concert halls, and through their generous support play an active role in shaping the life of our community.
Gold Level Members
Sylvia Tóth
Yosef Salamon
Walter Katalin and Cornelius Walter
Silver Level Members
bpv Jádi Németh Attorneys at Law
Bernhard Hulla
Kiss Viktor dr.
Szecskay Law Firm
Vámos György dr.
Bronze Level Members
Bojár Gábor and his wife
Zanker Zsuzsanna dr.
Helia-D Kft.
Göczőné Magyar Andrea and Göcző József
Illés Gábor and Leányvári Enikő
BFO
Patrons
Benefactors
Gold Benefactors
Bottka Erzsébet dr. and Feldmájer Péter dr. םהרבא ןב קחצי רזעילא
Eliason Maria and James Élő Nóra
John Farago
Hermann Kamilla
Juhász Zoltán, instrument maker
Kabcenell, Nicholas and Gudor Orsolya
Dale A. Martin and Martin Csilla
Mosonyi Ágnes
Oszkai Rita
Rényi Andrea and Straub Elek
Simor András
Szelényi Iván
Silver Benefactors
Arriba Taqueria
Balázs Árpád and Dénes Andrea
Barna Judit dr.
Bihary, Balassa Law Firm
Bíró Ágnes
Bognár Péter, Vaya Travel Kft.
Bródy Péter dr. and Ildikó
Csépe Valéria dr.
Csík Gabriella dr. and Hudecz Ferenc dr.
Egervári Gábor dr.
Garai Ferenc and Kárpát Krisztina
György Pál dr. and Simon Ágnes
Istenesné Solti Andrea
Kalmár György
Köves Ildikó and Sparing László
Kürti-Deák Dóra
Lányi Zoltán dr., lawyer
Lengyel Péter
Madách Zsuzsánna Katalin
Marschall Miklós
Mártonfi Attila
Meinczinger-Krug Zsuzsanna and Krug Armin
Mészáros János and Mészárosné dr.
Bende Hedvig Mária
Mogyorós Gábor
Nyitrai István
SBGK Law Firm,
Szamosi Katalin dr.
Simon Tibor
Sólyom Éva dr.
Surányi Sándor and Sándorné
Szabó Daniella
Szauer Péter
David and Petra Thompson
Varga Júlia
Varsányi Katalin and Pál
Zsámboki Gabriella dr. and 2 anonymous patrons
Bronze Benefactors
Bach György
Bacher Gusztáv
Bakró-Nagy Marianne
Bencsik László dr.
Berger Györgyné
Boros István
Burger-Balogh Ingeborg and Balogh Tibor
Ashley Crouch
Karen M. Culver
Del Viscio Tiziana
Doleschall György
Dögei Anna
Esztervári Adrienn
Gerő Katalin dr.
Göncz Kinga and Benedek László dr.
György István
Hanák Gábor
Hancz László and and Mester Éva
Holéci József
Horváth Jánosné dr. and Fekete István
Hőnig Gábor
Jalsovszky Pál dr.
Kelemenné dr. Visky Katalin
Kertész Gabriella dr., notary
Király Éva
Király Júlia
Kis Bernadett
Kobela Mihály and Balogh Anikó
Kovács Éva
Kökény Mihály dr. and Stiller Mária
Lantos István dr.
László András, Professional Orvosi Kft.
Leposa Csilla and Székely Zoltán
Márványi Katalin
Milottáné dr. Lázár Judit
Molnár Erzsébet Katalin
Molnár Gábor dr.
Oszkó-Jakab Natália and Oszkó Péter
Paksy László dr.
Pálfalvi Márta
Poremba Andrea
Romsics Viktor
Sáfár László dr.
Schrancz Mihály dr., Realis Group
Soltész + Soltész Kft.
Szántó Csaba and
Szántó-Kapornay Emőke
Szarvas László, Dundus 2001 Kft.
Szegvári Mária dr.
Székely Éva and Balázs Lajos
Székely Zsófia
Tárnok Gyöngyi
Tokaji Nagy Erzsébet
Tóth Gábor
Török Ilona
Török Zoltán dr.
Vihar Judit dr.
Votin Elek
Zsidai Ilona and 2 anonymous patrons
Supporters
Gold Supporters
Bánáti Mária
Barta Pál
Eisler Péter dr.
Falus András dr.
Felkai Tamás
Finta Zoltán
Garics Zoltánné
Harmos Margit
Herczeg Ferenc
Hollós Sándor dr.
Kádi Anna
Kertész Zsuzsanna dr.
Kraici Márton and Kraiciné Szokoly Mária dr.
Lantos Mihály and Berkes Zsuzsanna dr.
László György Attila
Liliom Károly
Menczel Péter
Pálfia Judit dr.
Pirityi Katalin
Sápi Lajos
Somogyi Éva and Horváth László
Spohn Ferenc
Szabados Igor
Szabó–Szomor Ügyvédi Iroda
Szever Zsuzsanna dr. and Dalos Mihály
Szigeti Éva dr.
Szilbereky Éva
Vajda János and Radnai Mónika
Várkonyi Vera dr.
Vermes Viktória and 11 anonymous patrons
Silver Supporters Agócs Ágnes
Alföldi István
Ambrus Ágnes dr.
Bálint Péter
Barczikay László
Barsi Gusztáv dr.
Bende Zoltán
Benedek János
Bertalan Éva dr.
Böszörményi Katalin dr.
Csanádi Judit
Csernay László dr.
Deák Ágnes
Drexler Miklós
Farkas Ágnes
Farkas Gábor
Feldmájer Ágnes and Sándor
Fortelka Zsuzsanna
Frank Éva
Füredi Gábor
Gala Tours
Galambos Ágnes
Gálosi György
Gálosi Juli, Géta Center Kft.
Garai Anikó
Gordon Pál
Gottgeisl Rita
Halász Anna
Halász Gábor dr.
Hegyes Erzsébet dr. and Szolnoki Gábor
Horváth Dávid
Horváth László
Jáger Gyula
Jenei Gábor
Jenes Katalin
Jurák Eszter
Kabódi Erzsébet
Kabódi Ferenc
Kabódi Mátyás
Keviczky László
Kis Ádám
Klinga Ágnes
Kovács Péter dr.
Kőszegi László
Kressinszky Katalin
Krizsán Zsombor Mihály
Lázár József
Lebhardt Imre and Zsuzsa Lövenberg Gábor and Radó Julianna dr.
Makai Katalin dr. and Ungár János
Matskási István dr.
Medveczky Emőke
Németh Szabolcs
Ottó Mária
Patkós Katalin
Patyánik Mihály dr.
Péley Bernadette dr. and K. Németh Margit
Pelle Gáborné
Petur Márta
Ráduly-Kiss Sarolta Ilona
Rákosi Csilla
Révai Péter dr.
R. Fehér Gabriella
BFO
Patrons
Rimanóczy Zoltán
Rónai Tiborné
Schaffler György
Sik Endre and grandchildren
Sitkei Éva dr.
Sivó Róbert
Soltész Anikó dr.
Solti Gábor
Szabó Klári
Szabó Rita dr.
Tihanyi Ferenc
Tolcsvai Rózsa
Torma Kálmán
Tóth Anikó dr.
Tóth Katalin
Tóth Kinga
Valis Éva Márta
Vándor Ágnes
Váradi János
Varga Péter
Vári László
Vas László
Vassné Mátyók Tinka
Zachár Zsófia
Zeidler Gerdné
and 9 anonymous patrons
Bronze Supporters
Ábrahám Zoltán
Alaxai Rózsa
Alföldy Zoltánné
Almási Józsefné dr.
Andrási Andor and Pusztai Éva
Apáthy István
Ármay Zsuzsanna dr.
Bácskai Katalin
Bálint Ferencné
Banai Endréné dr.
Baranyi Éva dr.
Benczédi Krisztina
Bérczi Gábor
Berényi Gábor and
Pető Katalin dr.
Biksz Péter
Bogdán Istvánné
Bognár Béla dr.
Bölöni Eszter
Bumberák József dr.
Czinege Erzsébet
Csák Gábor
Csillag Beáta
Csuhai Csinos Klára
Danziger György dr.
Deák János
Ditrói Márta
Dobos Erika
Dósai Tamara
Dvorzsák Alexander
Erdős Erzsébet dr. Fábián András
Feldmájer Györgyi and Benedek Zsolt
Félegyházi Pál
Félix László
Földényi Éva
Földes Iván dr. and Zsuzsa
Gadzsokova Kraszimira
Gallasz József
Genti György dr.
Gerő Judit
Gervai Judit dr.
Gidáli Júlia
Görgényi Orsolya
Greiner Ákos
Guti Péter
Gyarmati Béla
Gyulai András
Halász Péterné
Halmos Judit and Magyar Mihály
Hammersberg Elemér dr.
Hárdi Lilla dr.
Hárs Ágnes
Havas István dr.
Havas Katalin
Hegyközi Ilona
Heller Judit
Horváth István dr.
Inkei Péter
Jankó Béla
Janoczkó Éva
Jánossa Zoltán
Jászberényi Hanna
Kappelné Haraszty Noémi and Kozmer Margit
Kárpáti Margit
Kelemen Zsolt
Kerékgyártó Kálmán
Keve Károly
Kiss Erzsébet
Kiss Lászlóné
Kiss Mariann
Klaniczay Gábor
Kocsány János
Kondor András
Kónya Katalin dr.
Korodi Mihály and Magyar Zsuzsanna
Kósa Judit
Kovács Zsuzsanna
Kriston József dr.
Ladányi Viktória
Láner Judit
Lantos Gáborné dr. Lendvayné Győrik Gabriella
Lőrincz Andrea
Maár Judit dr. and Krokovay Zsolt dr.
Mandl Józsefné
Markovits Péter
Máté András
Meitner Tamás
Mezei Katalin
Mohácsi Endréné
Molnár Gáborné
Molnár Zsuzsa
Mosonyi Annamária dr.
Nagy Boldizsár
Nagy István
Nagy Judit
Nagy Károly dr.
Nagy Marianna
Németh Zsófia
Neulaender Márta
Nyárádiné Szabady Judit dr. Nyerges Katalin
Orosz Csaba
Pál Benedek
Pálné Kutasi Éva and Banász Andrásné
Palotai Valéria
Pankotai Csaba
Pankotainé Lux Margit
Pável Iván dr.
Pavluska Valéria dr.
Pelly Richard
Petrucz György
Pintér Zsuzsánna
Puhl Mária
Rácz Zsuzsanna
Rádai Péter
Ratkó Ilona
Rázga Bozsena
Reich Tamás, Cash Back Hungary Kft.
Révész Gábor
Rudas Jánosné Rutkai Ágnes
Sáfár Judit
Sárdi Katalin
Sikóné Horváth Ágnes dr.
Soltész András
Solti Series Circle of Friends
(Sáska Géza, Wollák Katalin and Laki Mihály)
Spiegel Marianna
Südi Kristóf
Szabó Márta
Szabó Piroska dr. and Oláh Ruben dr.
Szabó Tamás
Szántó Zsuzsa
Szegedi Ildikó
Szekeres Sándorné
Szentesi Péter dr.
Szilágyi Péter
Szőke Helga and András
Szőnyi Péter and
Szőnyi Péterné
Szőnyi Péterné dr.
Szörcsei Zsuzsa
Sztrinkai László dr.
Ujvári Tibor
Ungár Péter
Vajda Julianna dr.
Váradi Julianna
Varga Pál
Varga Veronika
Várkonyi Lili
Várnai Magdolna and Kajtár István dr.
Végh András
Végh Anna
Veress Anna
Veress Mariann
Vilonovszki Róbert
Volenszky Paula
Wéber László and Arányi Zsuzsanna dr.
Wildmoser Zsófia
Zlatniczky Tamás dr. and 43 anonymous patrons
Support
Our common causes
Our community and youth programs are free of charge to ensure that even those who cannot make it to the concert halls can enjoy them. Our patrons’ donations are essential for our mission – thanks to them, we bring the magic of music to thousands of people each year. If supporting Hungarian culture and community initiatives is close to your heart, please donate to help the BFO’s operations! bfz.hu/en/support-us/donate-now/other/
Support the BFO by donating 1% of your tax. It is the mission of our globally unrivalled musical education program to make listening to and playing music accessible to all young people. Donations received through 1% income tax contributions this year will go toward implementing our musical education programs. The Budapest Festival Orchestra Foundation’s tax number is 18005488-2-41.
Transcendental music: Leave a legacy! The Budapest Festival Orchestra is the orchestra of the future. By including our orchestra in your will, you can ensure the survival of classical music and the BFO for the next generations. With your responsible and generous help, we can improve our musical, educational and training programs and build the future together. If you have any questions, please contact our colleague, Zsuzsanna Deák, directly at: tamogatoiklub@bfz.hu.
“Why did I include the Festival Orchestra in my will? It’s simple: I have no official heir or family. I was wondering what should happen to what I leave behind. What has brought me so much joy in my old age and occasional loneliness? Classical music. It has helped me through hard times and always touched my soul. So eventually, the only thing that came into my mind was my favorite orchestra,” our testator wrote.
B F
BFO Ball
Music, dancing, moments of joy in a stunning venue. BFO Ball: join us for the social event of the season!
Corporate partnership program
Corporate partnership program
Since more and more companies are discovering the values they share with the BFO, we are transforming our corporate partnership program into a virtual and real-world meeting place. Those joining may find a path to an old and a new culture of recreation, the everyday celebrations of concerts, the emotionally liberating power of music and audiences united in rapt attention – and they have the opportunity to share this experience with their business partners. As responsible managers, our partners have the opportunity to obtain a behind-the-scenes look at a machine that is, and has been, capable of delivering world-class results week after week.
We hope to welcome you as one of our corporate partners: be a key part of the season and our international success! If your company aims at outstanding quality and constant renewal, and openness and social sensitivity are also crucial, then we share the same values. So why not share some common goals, too?
Harmony is the shared foundation of health and the arts. Just as the greatest value of the Budapest Festival Orchestra is being able to share harmony and emotions through the universal language of music, so do we, also, strive to use our cutting-edge medical knowledge to help our patients find balance. Medical science and the arts both demand commitment, precision and passion – and these values also bind us together. We are proud that the exceptional community of the Budapest Festival Orchestra is among those who choose IQB Medical Healthcare Center when it comes their health.
Judit
Kassai and Dr. Ákos Kassai, owners, IQB Medical
What do we offer our corporate partners? With our corporate partnership program, the BFO’s partners can establish new business relationships, utilize personally-tailored marketing tools to boost their brands and share in the joy and catharsis offered by our concerts, including the opportunity to motivate their employees and clients.
Social responsibility Thanks to corporate donations, we bring the joy of music to thousands of people around the country and help introduce children to music. Our community and educational projects can be incorporated into companies’ social responsibility initiatives.
How to donate? We welcome donations in the form of financial contributions, products, or services to support our operations. For support provided on the basis of a donation agreement, the donor company could reduce its corporate tax base by up to 40 percent of the amount of the donation depending on the duration of the agreement.
There is no art and no business without inspiration and the renewal that stems from it. Real art is born when we establish contact – and the Budapest Festival Orchestra has been setting an example in this for decades, serving as a model to institutions, companies and communities. Their enduring, yet constantly fresh, art has been one of the greatest values in Hungarian and international concert halls since the establishment of the BFO: they maintain an honest dialogue with their audiences, encouraging millions of people in their renewal and success every year. We are proud to support such critically important inspiration. Veronika Yalcinkaya, Director for Marketing and Communication, Raiffeisen Bank Zrt.
Support the Budapest Festival Orchestra!
We welcome you as a corporate partner!
The financial stability of the BFO is guaranteed by the Hungarian Government and the Municipality of Budapest
Principal partners
Strategic partners
Supporting partners
Event partners
Media partners
ÖSSZHANGBAN a fenntartható jövővel
Mint egy zenemű minden egyes hangjegye, a zenekar minden tagjának játéka a harmónia megteremtését célozza, úgy dolgozunk mi is minden területen a fenntarthatóság előmozdításán. Legyen szó az energetikai megoldásainkról, amelyek a zöld és megújuló forrásokat helyezik előtérbe, a körforgásos gazdaságban betöltött szerepünkről, amellyel elősegítjük a hulladékok újra feldolgozását, az erőforrások hatékony felhasználását, vagy társdalami szerepvállalásunkról, amely a fenntartható közösségek építését szolgálja: a célunk minden területen az, hogy egy élhetőbb világot teremtsünk az utánunk jövő generációk számára
A zene szereti a salátát
Ingyenes konzultáció: Bruckner György, +36 70 947 7282, www.freestyleconsulting.hu
Váltsd a prémium bankolás élményét
valóra
Dedikált prémium tanácsadói támogatás videón is
Széles hazai és nemzetközi befektetési termékpaletta
Könnyed ügyintézés a myRaiffeisen mobilapplikációban
Díjmentes vagy kedvezményes napi bankolás
Nyiss Raiffeisen Premium Banking Plus Számlát, és segítünk gondoskodni pénzügyeidről!
Számlavezetési szolgáltatás
Feltételek az Üzletszabályzatokban és Kondíciós Listában.
Vértezd fel magad a kibercsalásokkal szemben, látogass el a KiberPajzs honlapra! | kiberpajzs.hu
premiumbanking.raiffeisen.hu
Season pass and ticket information
Tickets, passes
Dynamic pricing
Tickets for the various concerts are available at the prices shown below through July 31, 2025. Beginning August 1, 2025, prices may change according to dynamic pricing rules.
Dynamic pricing will not affect the price of season passes. Discounts on flexible season passes will be calculated based on fixed ticket prices until July 31, 2025. Visit bfo.hu for more information on dynamic pricing.
Ticket prices
Concert with Iván Fischer –Müpa, BBNH
Concert with guest conductor –Müpa, BBNH
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
Midnight Music –Castle Garden Bazaar
Chamber Music –BFO Rehearsal hall
Cococa concerts –BFO Rehearsal hall
I. II. III. IV. V. VI.
Purchasing season passes and concert tickets
Visit bfo.hu or contact us by email at rendeles@bfz.hu to learn about the launch of season pass and single ticket sales. BFO Patrons have the option of purchasing tickets early.
Online ticket purchase
Season passes and tickets for the Budapest Festival Orchestra’s events may be purchased through our website bfo.hu by bank card or SZÉP card. There is no handling fee for online purchases.
When purchasing your season pass or ticket online, you will receive an e-season pass or e-ticket (in PDF format). E-season passes are fully valid electronic season passes that give you access to all the performances included in your season pass. E-tickets are fully valid electronic tickets.
If you would like to exchange your electronic pass for a paper pass, please inform us at the email address rendeles@bfz.hu. You may also make the same request in person at the BFO ticket office by August 31, 2025.
All your tickets in one place!
Register at the bfo.hu website, log into your account prior to make a purchase and manage your season passes or concert tickets there. If you were logged in when purchasing your season pass or tickets, you can view all your tickets for the season in your account, and you need not worry about looking for or downloading attachments sent by email.
Tickets, passes
Purchase
at ticket offices
BFO ticket office
1036 Budapest, Nagyszombat u. 1.
In-person purchases and pick-up of orders: Mon 10:00 – 2:00 p.m., Tue 10:00 – 4:00 p.m., Wed 10:00 – 2:00 p.m., Thu 10:00 – 2:00 p.m., Fri 10:00 – 2:00 p.m.
For current opening hours, please always check the Contact section of the bfo.hu website.
We accept cash, credit/debit card, SZÉP card and OTP Cafeteria Card.
Season passes and concert tickets can also be purchased through the nationwide network of Interticket offices and from the Budapest Festival Orchestra’s special vendors at: – Rózsavölgyi Szalon Arts & Café
1052 Budapest, Szervita tér 5., phone +36 1 266 8337
– Müpa Budapest ticket office
1095 Budapest, Komor Marcell utca 1., phone +36 1 555 3300
– Liszt Academy ticket office
1061 Budapest, Liszt Ferenc tér 8., phone +36 1 321 0690
Extra options
Flexible season pass When single tickets go on sale, you may also buy flexible season passes, allowing you to choose the 5 to 10 symphonic performances you want to attend. Included is a discount of 15–20% compared to the price of single tickets. The discount is applied when purchasing your tickets in the same transaction. The possibility to exchange tickets within a season pass does not apply to tickets purchased in a flexible season pass.
Guests in wheelchairs Subject to the availability of seats, visitors in wheelchairs may request a free ticket by sending an email to rendeles@bfz.hu. Companions are entitled to a 50% discount.
Payment by installments You may purchase your season passes in two installments; in this case, a handling fee of 5% of the total sales price will be charged. You will receive your season pass upon payment of the second installment. The deadline for making the payment is August 31, 2025. Payment by installments may only be requested in person at the BFO’s office.
Fricsay family season pass Purchase a Fricsay season pass and children will receive 50% off. The discount is only available on season pass purchases for two adults and at least one child. To receive the discount, please visit the BFO’s offices and present the child(ren)’s ID card(s).
Gift card Our orchestra offers gift cards in values of HUF 5,000, 10,000, 15,000 and 20,000, which make a perfect present for any occasion. Gift cards may be used to purchase Budapest Festival Orchestra season passes and tickets for any concert, up to the value indicated on the card, and remain valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. The gift cards purchased online or at our ticket office may be used for purchases online or in person at the BFO ticket office. The cards may only be paid for in cash or by bank card; however, if the price of the season pass or ticket selected exceeds the value available on the gift card upon redeeming it, the difference may be settled in cash, by bank card or by SZÉP card as well.
Season pass Doráti 2025
September 11
Thursday 7:00 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mozart: Don Giovanni
Schuen, Pisaroni, Bengtsson, Fischer
September 20
Saturday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest Bartók
Láng, Cser, Eva Duda
Dance Company, Fischer
October 06
Monday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky Suwanai, Martín
November 08
Saturday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Beethoven, R. Strauss
Ibragimova, Fischer
December 02
Tuesday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Ligeti, Ginastera, Nielsen
Maistre, Robertson
2026
January 16
Friday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mendelssohn, Widmann, Schumann
C. Widmann, J. Widmann
concerts & bonus concert
January 31
Saturday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mahler
Romberger, Cantemus, Fischer
April 17
Friday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Bruckner
Janowski
May 15
Friday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Schumann, Wagner Kampe, Müller-Brachmann, Fischer
Includes all performances in Müpa Budapest.
bonus concert: optional chamber music concert in the BFO Rehearsal Hall
Price
I. category: HUF 153,000
II. category: HUF 108,000
III. category: HUF 99,000
IV. category: HUF 70,000
V. category: HUF 57,000
VI. category: HUF 36,000
Season pass Solti 2025
September 09
Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mozart: Don Giovanni
Schuen, Pisaroni, Bengtsson, Fischer
September 19
Friday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Bartók
Láng, Cser, Eva Duda
Dance Company, Fischer
October 07
Tuesday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky
Suwanai, Martín
November 07
Friday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Beethoven, R. Strauss
Ibragimova, Fischer
December 03
Wednesday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Ligeti, Ginastera, Nielsen
Maistre, Robertson
January 19
Monday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mendelssohn, Widmann, Schumann
C. Widmann, J. Widmann
concerts & bonus concert
February 02
Monday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mahler
Romberger, Cantemus, Fischer
April 16
Thursday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Bruckner
Janowski
May 18
Monday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Schumann, Wagner Kampe, Müller-Brachmann, Fischer
Includes all performances in Müpa Budapest.
bonus concert: optional chamber music concert in the BFO Rehearsal Hall
Price
I. category: HUF 153,000
II. category: HUF 108,000
III. category: HUF 99,000
IV. category: HUF 70,000
V. category: HUF 57,000
VI. category: HUF 36,000
Season pass Reiner 2025
September 12
Friday 7:00 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mozart: Don Giovanni Schuen, Pisaroni, Bengtsson, Fischer
October 04
Saturday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky Suwanai, Martín
November 09
Sunday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest Beethoven, R. Strauss Ibragimova, Fischer
December 06
Saturday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest Ligeti, Ginastera, Nielsen Maistre, Robertson
concerts & bonus concert
2026
January 18
Sunday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mendelssohn, Widmann, Schumann C. Widmann, J. Widmann
February 01
Sunday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mahler
Romberger, Cantemus, Fischer
April 18
Saturday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Bruckner Janowski
Performances only in Müpa Budapest.
bonus concert: optional chamber music concert in the BFO Rehearsal Hall
Price
I. category: HUF 118,000
II. category: HUF 84,000
III. category: HUF 77,000
IV. category: HUF 55,000
V. category: HUF 45,000
VI. category: HUF 28,000
Storytime with Iván 2025
September 21
Sunday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Bartók
Láng, Cser, Eva Duda
Dance Compay, Fischer
November 09
Sunday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Beethoven, R. Strauss
Ibragimova, Fischer
2026
February 01
Sunday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mahler
Romberger, Cantemus, Fischer
May 16
Saturday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Schumann, Wagner
Kampe, Müller-Brachmann, Fischer
Performances only in Müpa Budapest.
Price
I. category: HUF 94,000
II. category: HUF 65,600
III. category: HUF 60,000
IV. category: HUF 42,000
V. category: HUF 33,600
VI. category: HUF 20,400
Season pass Ormándy 2025
October 17
Friday 7:45 p.m.
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall Mozart, Haydn Sitkovetsky, Takács-Nagy
November 24
Monday 7:45 p.m.
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
Handel, C. P. E. Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn Jóföldi, Pilz
2026
January 24
Saturday 7:45 p.m.
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
J. C. Bach, J. S. Bach, C. P. E. Bach, W. F. Bach Chauvin
February 27
Friday 7:45 p.m.
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall Mozart, Haydn, Veress Altstaedt
concerts 7
March 13
Friday 7:45 p.m.
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
Mozart
Szűcs, Takács-Nagy
April 25
Saturday 7:45 p.m.
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
Vivaldi, Pergolesi, Boccherini, Galuppi, Mozart, Jommelli
Binon, Malov, T’Hooft
June 05
Friday 7:45 p.m.
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
C. P. E. Bach, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Shostakovich, Beethoven Kádár, Bard
Includes all performances at the Liszt Academy.
Price
I. category: HUF 85,000
II. category: HUF 64,000
III. category: HUF 55,000
IV. category: HUF 38,000
V. category: HUF 31,000
VI. category: HUF 23,000
Season pass Fricsay 2025
October 19
Sunday 3:30 p.m.
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall Mozart, Haydn Sitkovetsky, Takács-Nagy
2026
January 25
Sunday 3:30 p.m.
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
J. C. Bach, J. S. Bach, C. P. E. Bach, W. F. Bach Chauvin
March 01
Sunday 3:30 p.m.
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
Mozart, Haydn, Veress Altstaedt
March 15
Sunday 3:30 p.m.
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall Mozart
Szűcs, Takács-Nagy
April 26
Sunday 3:30 p.m.
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
Vivaldi, Pergolesi, Boccherini, Galuppi, Mozart, Jommelli Binon, Malov, T’Hooft
June 06
Saturday 3:30 p.m.
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
C. P. E. Bach, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Shostakovich, Beethoven Kádár, Bard
Performances only at the Liszt Academy.
Price
I. category: HUF 73,000
II. category: HUF 55,000
III. category: HUF 47,000
IV. category: HUF 33,000
V. category: HUF 26,000
VI. category: HUF 20,000
Season pass Kertész 2025
September 20
Saturday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Bartók
Láng, Cser, Eva Duda
Dance Company, Fischer
October 18
Saturday 7:45 p.m.
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
Mozart, Haydn Sitkovetsky, Takács-Nagy
November 25
Tuesday 7:45 p.m.
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
Handel, C. P. E. Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn Jóföldi, Pilz
concerts & bonus concert
2026
January 16
Friday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mendelssohn, Widmann, Schumann
C. Widmann, J. Widmann
March 14
Saturday 7:45 p.m.
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
Mozart Szűcs, Takács-Nagy
April 17
Friday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Bruckner
Janowski
Performances both in Müpa Budapest and the Liszt Academy.
bonus concert: optional chamber music concert in the BFO Rehearsal Hall
Price
I. category: HUF 88,000
II. category: HUF 65,000
III. category: HUF 58,000
IV. category: HUF 42,000
V. category: HUF 34,000
VI. category: HUF 24,000
Season pass
Széll
2026
January 18
Sunday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Mendelssohn, Widmann, Schumann
C. Widmann, J. Widmann
February 28
Saturday 7:45 p.m.
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
Mozart, Haydn, Veress
Altstaedt
March 14
Saturday 7:45 p.m.
Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
Mozart
Szűcs, Takács-Nagy
concerts
April 18
Saturday 3:30 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Bruckner
Janowski
May 18
Monday 7:45 p.m., Müpa Budapest
Schumann, Wagner
Kampe, Müller-Brachmann, Fischer
Performances both in Müpa Budapest and the Liszt Academy.
Price
I. category: HUF 77,000
II. category: HUF 55,000
III. category: HUF 50,000
IV. category: HUF 35,000
V. category: HUF 28,000
VI. category: HUF 18,000
Cocoa season pass 2025
October 11
Saturday 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
BFO Rehearsal Hall
Illési
December 07
Sunday 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
BFO Rehearsal Hall
Illési
concerts 5
2026
January 10
Saturday 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
BFO Rehearsal Hall
Illési
March 07
Saturday 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
BFO Rehearsal Hall
Illési
May 17
Sunday 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.
BFO Rehearsal Hall
Fischer
Price
HUF 25,000
Müpa Budapest, Béla Bartók
National Concert Hall (BBNCH)
I. category
II. category
III. category
IV. category
V. category
VI. category
Reserved seats
Seats for persons with disabilities
Side balcony LEFT
Side balcony
balcony
BFO staff and boards
Budapest Festival Orchestra
Management
Music Director: Fischer Iván
Managing Director: Erdődy Orsolya
Personal Assistant to the Music Director: Zeibig Márton
Personal Assistant to the Managing Director: Tófalvi Zselyke
Production Management
Artistic Planning:
Anna-Berenika Haefliger*
Head of Operation: Zöld Krisztina
Operational Manager: Szani Szolongo
Chief Librarian: Gátay Tibor
Senior Tour Manager: Wolf Ivett
Junior tour manager: Czirják Ágnes
Senior Orchestra Personnel Manager and European Orhcesta Academy coordinator: Melisko Krisztina
Junior Orchestra Personnel Manager: Somogyi Roxána
Head of Stage Management: Zentai Róbert
Stage Coordinators: Kathi Sándor, Siba István, Sila József
Sponsoring and International Relations
International President: Martin Hoffmann*
Head of Development: Deák Zsuzsanna
Developement Managers: Tófalvi Zselyke, Kádár Júlia*
Communications and Audience Relations
Head of Marketing and Audience Relations: Tiszolczi-Bertalan Anna
Marketing Manager: Szigeti Orsolya
Social Media Manager: Somogyi Roxána
Communications Adviser: Váradi Júlia*
Audience Relations Managers: Kedves Kinga, Réz Judit
Finance and HR
Head of Finance: Szabó Attila
Legal and HR Manager: dr. Szeredás-Budán Bernadett
Accountants:
Holbach Andrea, Töreky Beáta
Secretariat
Office Assistant:
Aranyosné Boros Angyalka
Perpetual Staff Member: Maglódi Györgyné
*independent consultant
International Friends of the BFO
American Friends of the Budapest Festival Orchestra
International Friends of the Budapest Festival Orchestra –Germany e.V.
British Friends of the Budapest Festival Orchestra
Swiss Friends of the Budapest Festival Orchestra
e-mail: international@bfz.hu
BFO contacts
Office: 1036 Budapest, Nagyszombat u. 1. telephone: +36 1 489 4330
Email: info@bfz.hu
Postal address: 1300 Budapest, Pf. 47
IBAN:
HU58 1091 8001 0000 0089 5916 0000 (UniCredit Bank Zrt.)
Website and ticket sales: bfo.hu
Published by the Budapest Festival Orchestra Foundation
Publisher: Erdődy Orsolya,
Managing Director of the BFO
Text: Mona Dániel
Editor: Szigeti Orsolya
Graphic Design: büro für mitteilungen
Close of editing: March 18, 2025
Photo
2: Marco Borggreve
5: Dalma Szondy
6–7: Bálint Hirling
14: Christoph Koestlin
17: László Emmer
18: Paul Marc Mitchell
20: Vincy Ng
23: Joss McKinley
24: Ákos Stiller
27: Nikolaj Lund
28: Bálint Hirling
31: Marco Borggreve
32: Marco Borggreve
35: Bálint Hirling
37: Marco Borggreve
38: Norbert Hartyányi
40: Felix Broede
42: Julia Wesely
45: Sasha Vasiljev
46: Szilvia Csibi
79: Lili Chripkó
86: Lili Chripkó
Stratégiai partnereink:
Fotó © Réthey-Prikkel Tamás, Nagy Attila, Posztós János, Kotschy Gábor, Pályi Zsófia
Concert venues
Müpa Budapest
1095 Budapest, Komor Marcell u. 1. Tram 1 – Közvágóhíd; 2, 23, 24 – Müpa – Nemzeti Színház
Bus 54, 55, 224 – Müpa – Nemzeti Színház
Suburban railway H7 – Müpa – Nemzeti Színház
Parking Concert visitors may park for free in the outdoor parking lot and the underground parking garage.
Franz Liszt Academy of Music
1061 Budapest, Liszt Ferenc tér 8. Tram 4, 6 – Király utca
Trolley 70, 78 – Király utca Bus 105, 210 – Oktogon Metro M1 – Oktogon
Parking is free in nearby streets on non-business days.
Budapest Congress Center
1123 Budapest, Jagelló út 1–3. Tram 17, 61 – BAH-csomópont; 59 – Apor Vilmos tér Bus 8E, 139, 212 – BAH-csomópont; 110, 112 – BAH-csomópont or Sirály utca; 102, 105 – Apor Vilmos tér
Parking Concert visitors may park in the outdoor parking lot outside the Congress Center and Hotel Novotel.
BFO Rehearsal Hall
1034 Budapest, Selmeci utca 14–16. Tram 17, 19, 41 – Selmeci utca Bus 9, 111 – Tímár utca
Parking is free in nearby streets on non-business days.
Castle Garden Bazaar
1013 Budapest, Ybl Miklós tér 2–6. Tram 19, 41 – Várkert Bazár; 56, 56A – Döbrentei tér
Bus 5 – Szarvas tér/Döbrentei tér; 8E, 110, 112 – Döbrentei tér; 16, 105, 210, 178 – Clark Ádám tér Night Bus 916, 990 – Clark Ádám tér; 956 – Szarvas tér/Döbrentei tér; 907, 908, 973 – Döbrentei tér
Parking Concert visitors may park in the underground parking garage of the Castle Garden Bazaar.