Bartok Seminar 2009

Bartók-New Music

Bartók’s stage compositions have been on the program of the International Bartók Festival a number of times in the past years. However, we have no knowledge of whether such a comprehensive masterclass on the opera Bluebeard's Castle, as the one that will take place at the 2009 Bartók Festival, has ever been organised before. The project involves two weeks of intense, creative work, where young conductors, singers and directors bring a new, theatrical opera production on stage, and is led by one of the most prominent opera-composers of our time: Péter Eötvös, who invited Balázs Kovalik, Artistic Director of the Hungarian State Opera, and composer-conductor Gergely Vajda on the staff. The project is joined by a legendary Judit: Cornelia Kallisch, and musicologist László Vikárius, who is also Head of the Budapest Bartók Archives. The names above hold out a promise of shedding new light upon one of the main works of Bartók.

The list of professors further contributing in the 2009 Bartók Seminar is in no way less impressive: Heinz Holliger for chamber music, Jan Michiels and Imre Rohmann for piano, Miklós Perényi for cello and Zoltán Gyöngyössy for flute.

Péter Eötvös will also be present as a conductor, on the occasion of the Hungarian premiere of a new double-concerto of his. Furthermore, the operas of Eötvös will be highlighted in a series of film screenings.

Last but not least, the Festival will make place for several other stage productions, which guarantees a rich selection of interesting, high quality programs for the audience once more, in 2009. 

It would be a shame to miss it!

1. Comprehensive masterclass on Bluebeard's Castle by Béla Bartók, for young conductors, singers directors and dramaturgs

Bartók: Bluebeard's Castle (opera; Universal Ed.)

Participants can use any score that contains the Hungarian text. In 2008, Universal Edition Vienna published a new, solely Hungarian edition, of which the catalogue number is 7028. In case your score does not contain the Hungarian text, please write it in your own copy using the piano score. The catalogue number of the piano score containing the Hungarian text is 7026.

Thorough knowledge of the piece is required from those wishing to participate in the course! 

a) Course description for conductors:

Professors: Péter Eötvös (conductor, composer, founder of the International Péter Eötvös Contemporary Music Foundation) Info: www.eotvospeter.com

                 Gergely Vajda (conductor, composer) Info: www.vajdag.com

During the two weeks of the conducting course participants will be working on Bluebeard's Castle in-depth, together with the orchestra and the singers. Furthermore, there will be individual consultations, analysis sessions and lectures. The ultimate goal of the course is to put an all-inclusive opera production on the boards.

Active participants will be selected, based on their performance at the following tasks:

1. First round: conducting from the score, without orchestra or piano, after which 14 conductors will proceed to the next round.
2. Second round: conducting the orchestra (without the singers), after which the 7 active participants will be chosen.

The professors will make a selection from the participating conductors, - based on their performance throughout the course, - to conduct the opera at the final concert.

Besides listening to the workshops, passive participants and participants of other courses are also welcome to attend the rehearsals, musicology lectures and consultations, and the rehearsals of the orchestra led by Péter Eötvös. The program of the rehearsals for the concert on July 11th is the following: Gergely Vajda: Due Voe, Berio: Folk Songs, Péter Eötvös: Levitation (Hungarian premiere), Bartók: Four Pieces

The course is set for post-graduate, practising conductors up to the age of 35. Those who apply for the first time, please attach to your application form the following documents:

- a copy of your university degree (in exceptional cases applicants with a musical degree other than in conducting may be accepted)

- your resume, a list of conducted works, a list of your repertoire 

Course feefor passive students: 240 Euros 

b) Course description for directors, dramaturges, musicologists and those interested:

Professor: Balázs Kovalik (Artistic Director of the Hungarian State Opera, Artistic Director of the Budapest Autumn Festival)

Participants must apply with a blueprint of their concept to dramatize the opera, or an analysis about the piece. (max. 3x A4 sheets) The aim of the course is to create an opera production based on the different concepts of the participants. Music directors, dramaturges and musicologists may take part in the working sessions. 

Course fee for passive students:  240 Euros   

c) Course description for singers

We invite baritones / basses and mezzo-sopranos to apply for the two leading parts of Bluebeard's Castle. The course focuses on building up the characters (e.g.: pronunciation, moulding of the characters, moving on stage), rather than on singing technique.

The singers will work on the stage production together with the participating conductors and directors. The chosen singers (7x2 singers) will each perform a scene from the opera at the closing concert of the course, as part of the official Festival program.

On July 12th and 13th the singers will also have the opportunity to attend a two-day workshop by opera singer Cornelia Kallisch. Info:www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Kallisch-Cornelia.htm)

The active participants of the singing course will be selected by the professors at an audition, on the spot.

Course fee for passive students:  240 Euros

Professor: Jan Michiels (Pianist, Professor at the Koninklijk Conservatorium, Bruxelles)
Info: www.michielsjan.be

Languages of the course: English, German, French, Dutch

Bartók, Debussy and the piano music of the 20st and 21st centuries.

Applicants may also apply with piano pieces for four hands or two pianos. 

Course fee for passive students: 120 Euros 

3. Piano Course II

Professor: Imre Rohmann (Professor of Piano, Mozarteum, Salzburg) Info: www.info.bmc.hu

Languages of the course: German, English, and Hungarian

The course focuses on Bartók’s piano works. The course focuses on Bartók’s Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion.

The participants have the possibility to rehearse and perform the piece on the closing concert of the course with guest percussionists.

Participants must prepare at least one piece by Bartók, in addition to other, contemporary works of free choice.

Course feefor passive students: 120 Euros

One can apply for any or both of the piano courses.

Course fee for the two courses together for active participants: 380 Euros

4. Flute course  

Professor: Zoltán Gyöngyössy (Flutist, Professor at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest) Info: www.info.bmc.hu

Accompanist: Rita Termes

Languages of the course: English, German, Hungarian

The subject matter of the course:

1. From Debussy to the works of contemporary composers (international repertoire)

2. 20th century and contemporary Hungarian pieces and transcriptions

3. pieces of free choice

It is obligatory to choose at least one piece that matches either the first or second category.

The participants of the course can take part in the chamber music workshop of Heinz Holliger free of charge.

Professor: Miklós Perényi (Cellist, Professor at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest)
Info: www.harrisonturner.co.uk/perenyi.htm

Languages of the course: English, German, Italian, Hungarian 

Lessons daily from 09.00 am till 01.00 pm, except on July 16th, when – because of the professor’s concert – there will be no lessons.

The subject matter of the course: 
20st century, contemporary and classsical cello repertoire.

Beside solo works it is possible to apply with chamber sonatas as well.

(Applicants are kindly asked NOT to prepare etudes and pre-classical sonatas!)

Please indicate the chosen pieces exactly in the application form!

Course feefor passive students: 100 Euros

Languages of the course: English, German

The subject matter of the course: 

Heinz Holliger: Sonata Insolitaire (solo flute),
                       Quintet (oboa, clarinet, French horn, bassoon and piano)
Veress: Diptych for wind quintett
Veress: Sonatina for oboe, clarinet and bassoon
Carter: Eight Etudes and a Fantasy for wind quartet (no horn)
Ligeti: 10 pieces for wind quintet
Holliger: “h” for wind quintet
             Toronto Exercises (the movement Harmonia can be played with 2 violins instead of a round bow)
             Mamounia

We invite mostly flutists, oboists, clarinetists, horn- and bassoon players to apply for this chambermusic workshop. The workshop is highly recommended for all participants of the Seminar, for whom it is free of charge.

Course fee for passive students: 60 Euros

July 13th-15th every night at 10 pm: film screenings of the operas of Péter Eötvös, with introduction by the composer himself.

July 13th: Three sisters, July 14th: Balcon, July 15th: Angels in America 

July 14th: László Somfai’s musicology lecture: Bartók’s Divertimento – Concept, Style, Interpretation

July 16th: Excursion to Sárvár (free excursion with sightseeing by bus, and listening to a concert on the spot)

8. Festival concerts every day 

The International Bartók Seminar and Festival is organized by Philharmonia Concert nad Festival Agency, between July 6th and 19th. We accept applications for the courses continuously. The instrumental courses will be held if there are at least 8 applicants but they can work with a maximum of 12 participants. The selection of active participants is held at the beginning of the courses from the repertoire of the course.

Day-tickets are available for passive guest auditors only, for 25 Euros/day (a day ticket is not valid for active participation).

Applications should be mailed to Filharmónia Budapest Kht no later than

Please attach to the properly filled-in application form:

- a passport-sized photo (if you are attending the Bartók Seminar for the first time)

- bank confirmation of the transfer of the application fee
 

In order to confirm your intention to participate, please transfer the advance of the participation fee of 50 Euros by 1 May 2009 to the following bank account number:

10032000-00286978-00000048
(Magyar Nemzeti Bank / Magyar Államkincstár)
SWIFT CODE: MANEHUHB,
IBAN: HU70 1003 2000 0028 6978 0000 0048

Please cover the costs of transfer!

The application fee will not be returned even if you withdraw your application.

The amount of the participation fee is indicated for each course separately. Since it includes the application fee as well, participants are asked to pay (cash) upon arrival to Szombathely 50 EUROS less than the total amount of participation fee. The active or passive participation will be decided at the beginning of the courses by audition. Those who are selected to be active participants will pay active fee, all the other participants will only pay the passive participation fee. The participation fee includes free entry to all courses, lectures, concerts, excursions and other events of the festival. The participants of the Seminar can take part in the chamber music workshop for free.  

Accommodation can be provided at the new student dormitory of the Ágoston Pável Youth Hostel in two-bed rooms (with bathroom and internet access) for approximately 12 Euros/ night/ person.

Upon request half board (breakfast and lunch) will be provided at the restaurant of the Savaria University Centre, at cost price.

Editorial board of the International Bartók Seminar and Festival:

Philharmonia Concert and Festival Agency

György Igric

Ágnes Széll

Ministry of Education and Culture

The Municipality of Szombathely
The General Assembly of Vas County
National Cultural Fund 
Artisjus
Pro Helvetia Foundation
Belgian Embassy, Budapest

Organizers reserve the right to change any of the program or data included the website.

Filharmony Concert and Festival Agency
H-1075 Budapest, Kazinczy u. 24-26.
Tel: (+36 1) 266-1459 or 302-4961,
Fax: (+ 36 1) 302-4962