Last evening, I had the pleasure of hearing a recital by the Hungarian organist, harpsichordist and composer, Bálint Karosi. I went not knowing what was to be on the program, but it was one of those rare musical opportunities where “I just had an instinct that something special could happen.”
His program consisted of lots of Bach, including one of my favorite keyboard works, Fantasia and Fugue in A minor (BWV 944). I wrote about this work in an earlier post.
Also included were works by Buxtehude, the French contingent (Couperin, Duruflé and Vierne), plus a movement from one of Karosi’s own compositions, Symphony no. 1 on a chorale by Béla Bartók.
The pièce de résistance, however, was the encore. Mr. Karosi delivered, on the spot, a complex organ improvisation based on a theme given to him only seconds before. I don’t know who was more mesmerized – the audience or Mr. Karosi himself!
I’ve learned to trust my musical instincts. “Something very special” did, in fact, happen last evening.
Learn more about Bálint Karosi here.