CONCERTO Budapest will be appearing under the direction of chief conductor and artistic director András Keller at G Live in Guildford on June 7 at 7.30pm.

The 80-strong ensemble will perform Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra, Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.23 in A major K.488, with Angela Hewitt as soloist, and Beethoven’s Symphony No.5.

András Keller’s choice of repertoire plays to his orchestra’s fundamental strengths and reflects its collective determination to connect with audiences at the most profound emotional level.

He said: “We want to introduce Hungarian music and culture to British audiences in a befitting manner. My only desire is to give authentic and effective performances.

“Concerto Budapest are famous for playing music with enormous heart and soul. The orchestra’s ethos is simple: we have to be transformed into the sounds we play. This is how music happens with us; in this way, it’s possible to convey the music’s soul to our audiences. This demands total devotion, which is what I learnt from my masters, from György Kurtág, Ferenc Rados, Sándor Végh.”

Founded in 1907 as the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra, Concerto Budapest adopted its present name a century later. András Keller, who began his tenure as artistic director and chief conductor during the orchestra’s centenary year, has built on its historic legacy while attracting many of Hungary’s foremost young chamber music players to its ranks.

György Kurtág, who regards Keller as his foremost student, eagerly accepted the conductor’s invitation to become the orchestra’s honorary president and continues to be a major influence on its artistic philosophy.

For more information and tickets visit www.concertobudapest.hu/uk-tour-2022