Dallas Symphony Celebrates Hungarian Musical Connections

Program features works by Hungarian composers and a German who popularized Hungarian folk tunes.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 5:49pm

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The Dallas Symphony Orchestra's recent concert program highlighted the influence of Hungarian music, featuring works by Hungarian composers Zoltán Kodály and Béla Bartók, as well as pieces by the German composer Johannes Brahms that were inspired by Hungarian folk traditions. The concert also included a virtuosic performance of Miklós Rózsa's Violin Concerto, which the DSO had not played since its 1956 premiere.

Why it matters

The concert showcased the rich musical heritage of Hungary and its impact on European classical music. Composers like Liszt, Brahms, Kodály, and Bartók all drew inspiration from Hungarian and Romani folk music, helping to popularize these traditions internationally. The performance of Rózsa's concerto also highlighted the contributions of Hungarian-born composers to the film music genre.

The details

The program featured Kodály's Romanian Folk Dances, Bartók's Dances of Galanta, and several of Brahms' Hungarian Dances. The highlight was a stunning performance of Miklós Rózsa's Violin Concerto by 19-year-old soloist Amaryn Olmeda. Rózsa, a Hungarian-born composer known for his film scores, wrote the concerto in a late romantic style with virtuosic flourishes. Music director Fabio Luisi led the orchestra in coordinating the work's complex rhythms and textures.

  • The Dallas Symphony Orchestra had not performed Miklós Rózsa's Violin Concerto since its 1956 premiere.
  • The concert took place on Thursday, March 27, 2026.

The players

Fabio Luisi

The music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra who conducted the concert.

Miklós Rózsa

A Hungarian-born composer known for his film scores, including for Spellbound, Ben Hur, and King of Kings, who also composed the Violin Concerto performed at the concert.

Amaryn Olmeda

A 19-year-old Australian violinist currently studying at the New England Conservatory, who performed the virtuosic solo part in Rózsa's Violin Concerto.

Walter Hendl

The conductor who led the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's 1956 premiere of Rózsa's Violin Concerto, with soloist Jascha Heifetz.

Jascha Heifetz

The famous violinist who performed the solo part in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's 1956 premiere of Rózsa's Violin Concerto.

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What’s next

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will perform the program again on Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29, 2026.

The takeaway

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra's concert highlighted the enduring influence of Hungarian music on the classical canon, showcasing works that blend folk traditions with virtuosic composition. The performance of Rózsa's Violin Concerto in particular demonstrated the continued relevance of this rich musical heritage.