KLASSZ Music Office founded

KLASSZ Music Office began its operation within the framework of Hungarofest Public Benefit Organization on 1 March 2008.

One of the main tasks of the Office is the co-ordination of the special musical years related to anniversaries. In the forthcoming period the Office is responsible for the preparation, co-ordination and organization of the Haydn Year 2009 (commemorating the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death), the Erkel-Mahler Year 2010 (in remembrance of the 200th and 150th jubilee of the artists’ birth, respectively), and finally the Liszt Year 2011 (celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the world-famous composer).

It is also an important mission of the Office to co-ordinate nation-wide projects on classical music. These events are intended to attract young people, too. Of outstanding importance among these projects is the Castle Concerts Eszterháza 2008, a series of concerts being by now considered as a traditional event. The series is going to take place in the summer – from early June to mid-September – and serves as a kind of opening to the above-mentioned musical years. The central figure of the 37 concerts is, of course, Joseph Haydn. This is followed in August 2008 by another ‘forerunner’ event, the Liszt Week in Esztergom, organised with the intention to establish a tradition. It is a summer-course with concerts and performances for choir-singers, concentrating above all on the church music and choral works of Ferenc Liszt and those typical of the period. Finally, on 1 October 2008, the World Music Day, KLASSZ organises one of the greatest events, at which the works of Benjamin Britten will be interpreted. The target-group in the first place is children, and so, according to our plans, pupils from the countryside will also have the opportunity to attend the programme. The major objective of the Office with all of these events is to make the youngest generation grow fond of classical music.

In addition, the Office considers it essential to deal with those who already feel attracted to a musical career, and so we support the education of young musicians. By offering opportunities to study abroad we pave the way for young musical talents and culture managers towards an international career.