Start 2023 by indulging in classical music at Müpa Budapest (also known as The Palace of Arts). On January 1st, Müpa traditionally wishes its audience a happy New Year with one of Haydn's two major oratorios. This year (for the first time since 2014 ), The Seasons will be presented. The programme will be complemented by a matching New Year's Concert for Young People, starting in the afternoon.

If you are planning to celebrate New Year's Eve in Budapest, but are craving something beyond the dancing-eating-drinking trio, Müpa Budapest will get you covered. You can top off your lentil-based New Year's Day dish with cultural delicacies at their annual start-of-the-year concert, where one of the core works of the classical repertoire, The Seasons by Haydn will be performed. This is quite special even for Budapest-based classical music fans, as the last time this piece was presented on this stage was in 2014.

The Seasons by Haydn

You can enjoy Haydn's vocal 'pastorale symphony' again on January 1st (at 7:30 pm with one interval), conducted by Adam Fischer. Fischer is one of the composer's most authentic interpreters, highlighting every idea in Haydn's music and bringing all his hidden messages to the surface. The piece will be revived by a world-class international ensemble, the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra, with the Hungarian Radio Choir serving as the choir. The solo parts will be performed by various globally respected artists, including Emőke Baráth, Uwe Stickert, and Miklós Sebestyén.

Only a few people might know that The Seasons is a masterpiece Haydn wasn't eager to compose. After the enormous success of The Creation, his noble lyricist Gottfried van Swieten wanted 'Papa' to set another libretto to music, namely James Thomson's narrative poem The Seasons. Haydn felt no inclination to take on the work, but the persuasion was so persistent that he ended up getting on with it, albeit grumblingly. We already know the result: another highly successful opus magnum of the oeuvre, which shows the relationship between man and nature in the light of the seasons.

Only a few people might know that The Seasons is a masterpiece Haydn wasn't eager to compose. After the enormous success of The Creation, his noble lyricist Gottfried van Swieten wanted 'Papa' to set another libretto to music, namely James Thomson's narrative poem The Seasons. Haydn felt no inclination to take on the work, but the persuasion was so persistent that he ended up getting on with it, albeit grumblingly. We already know the result: another highly successful opus magnum of the oeuvre, which shows the relationship between man and nature in the light of the seasons.

New Year's Concert for Young People

The evening concert will be complemented by a New Year's Concert for Young People, starting at 4 pm. In these performances, Ádám Fischer conducts a condensed version of the work played in full at the New Year's concert, delivered along with informal and intriguing explanations. This program is specifically for 12-16 year-olds.

Tickets

Ticket can be purchased online, and prices range between HUF 5,900 - 20,900, with the afternoon concert being HUF 2,500.