Together in Song - Music from Hungary

The Oratorio Society of Virginia explores the rich and distinctive musical heritage of Hungary in a program featuring works by Franz Liszt, Zoltán Kodály, Béla Bartók, and other Hungarian composers.

At the heart of the concert is Liszt’s Missa Choralis, a work far removed from the dazzling piano showpieces for which he is best known. Composed in Rome in 1865, this deeply personal setting of the Latin Mass blends the purity of medieval plainchant and Renaissance polyphony with the daring chromatic harmonies of Liszt’s mature style.

Written for mixed chorus and organ, Missa Choralis gives each vocal line equal expressive weight, creating music of solemn beauty, quiet intensity, and profound spiritual searching. Its restrained organ accompaniment supports an intricate choral texture that can feel at once ancient and strikingly modern.

Together with works by Kodály, Bartók, and others, the program reveals the extraordinary range of Hungarian music—from folk-inspired rhythms and vivid tonal colors to sacred reflection and powerful choral expression.

This concert also continues The Oratorio Society of Virginia’s annual tradition of supporting the Charlottesville community through music. Each year, the Society’s board selects a local nonprofit service organization as the concert’s beneficiary, raising awareness of its mission while inviting audience members to contribute at the door. After production expenses are reconciled, a portion of ticket proceeds is also donated to the organization. Last year’s beneficiary was Emergency Food Network, following past partnerships with Literacy Volunteers, Habitat for Humanity, Boys & Girls Clubs, Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry, and Hospice of the Piedmont.