Conductors Florian Helgath and Alexander Lüken, conductor Máté Hámori, violinist Renaud Capuçon, pianists Ilya Shmukler, Dezső Ránki and Gábor Farkas, bassooonist György Lakatos, and opera singers Dorottya Láng and Polina Pasztircsák are just a few of those exceptional artists who will be joining the Hungarian Radio Art Groups during the 2026/2027 season.
The Hungarian Radio Art Groups – i.e. the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Choir of the Hungarian National Radio and the Hungarian Radio Children’s Choir – have been a leading actor in the Hungarian and international classical musical scene for decades. When one is turning the pages of the programme booklet of the 2026/2027 concert season, it becomes clear that the coming season is not merely another chapter in the history of this long-established ensemble but a unique celebration of respect for tradition and 21st century artistic renewal.
The backbone of the coming season’s programme consists in a carefully curated, exceptionally diverse repertoire ranging from oratorio masterpieces to the finest Baroque and contemporary chamber music rarities. The Hungarian Radio Art Groups invite their audience to join them on spiritual journeys inside the historic walls of Liszt Academy. The programme will feature works such as Rossini’s poignant masterpiece entitled ‘Petite Messe Solennelle,’ and Beethoven’s monumental creed entitled ‘Missa solemnis’ conducted by the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra’s honorary conductor Riccardo Frizza and featuring a soprano solo by stunning Polina Pasztircsák. The season also includes Franz Liszt’s oratorio entitled ‘The Legend of Saint Elisabeth’ conducted by János Kovács. This event evokes the historical atmosphere of the piece’s 1865 premiere in Pest. Under the baton of Gábor Hontvári, immortal compositions by Borodin and Rimsky-Korsakov will come to life: in ‘Scheherezade’ the Orchestra’s outstanding violinist and concertmaster Ágnes Langer will showcase her talents as a soloist while on another evening the audience can listen to László Dubrovay’s Bassoon Concerto performed by György Lakatos alongside works by Hungarian composers Zoltán Kodály and Leó Weiner. The season’s international prestige is further enhanced by guest appearances by world-renowned French violinist Renaud Capuçon, and Ilya Shmukler.
The concerts held in Müpa Budapest’s modern concert hall serve as a meeting place for intellectual and expressive musical worlds. The opening concert already sets the standards high enough: conductor and Musical Director of the Hungarian Radio Art Groups Domonkos Héja conducts Stravinsky’s rhythmic and colourful ‘Petrushka’ and Rachmaninov’s cantata entitled ‘The Bells,’ which latter piece draws on the soul of the Russian people. In subsequent concerts, Richard Strauss’ symphonic poems including ‘Thus Spoke Zarathustra’ and ‘Death and Transfiguration’ will present a challenge to the Art Groups, but Philip Glass’s monumental ‘Symphony No. 5’, conducted by Gergely Vajda, also promises to be a real treat for music history connoisseurs.
The Choir of the Hungarian National Radio deserves special mention, whose artistic direction is managed by Principal Conductor Máté Szabó Sipos. At various concert venues in Budapest ranging from Matthias Church to Pesti Vigadó, concerts by the Choir showcase the purest textures of the human voice. The evening entitled ‘Crosstalk’ draws parallels between old and new music, whereas concerts by internationally renowned guest conductors Florian Helgath and Alexander Lüken delve into the deepest layers of Romantic choral literature. The series entitled ‘Anno Sacri’ is aimed at the most devoted fans of Baroque music through evoking dramatic splendour beneath the vaults of Matthias Church by staging masterpieces by Bach, Telemann and Charpentier.
The Hungarian Radio Children’s Choir, who embody the promise of future generations, will take on impressive challenges under the direction of Soma Dinyés also in the coming season. The concert entitled ‘A Visit to Vienna’, which is a joint performance with Leipzig Radio Children’s Choir and is staged at the House of Music Hungary, is a classic example of musical dialogue across generations and nations. In addition, the pure and angel-like sounds of the traditional concerts in the Advent, Christmas and Carnival periods as well as on the occasion of Mother’s Day will certainly provide the audience with the most beautiful moments of these festive seasons.
Last but not least, the chamber music concerts entitled ‘Variations’ staged at Ernő Dohnányi Music Centre offer an opportunity for the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra’s outstanding musicians to perform their favourite pieces in smaller formations and in intimate proximity to the audience. Chamber works by the greatest composers will offer moments of pure musicality and the joy of making music.
All in all, the Hungarian Radio Art Groups’ 2026/2027 season is a stunning blend of artistic courage and community-building power, and the season’s programmes befittingly represent classical music culture both in Hungary and on the international stage.
Tradition. Community. Magic.
Come and join us!
Photo: Renaud Capuçon ©Warner