Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

CONTEMPORARY. BETHLEHEM. ASSOCIATIONS.

Levente Gyöngyösi’s Christmas Oratorio, written in 2013 and sung in Latin, is based – following the fashion of musical pieces by the composer’s great role model Bach – on an exciting libretto, and draws on a variety of textual sources, primarily the Gospel of Luke. At certain points in the narrative, possible conceptual associations of thought are conveyed through contemplative arias based on the Old Testament and other texts. Towards the end of the piece, the composer uses an unusual addition: the Latin translation of Hungarian poet Attila József’s poem entitled ‘The Kings of Bethlehem’. This composition presents the singing soloists with a demanding and ambitious task. Two of these are particularly notable: the soprano personifies the Virgin Mary and the angel, while the tenor – partly recalling the Passions – is given the role of the Evangelist, but – unlike in the Passions – this time he also sings an aria.