The international ensemble comprising four composers, seven musicians, a sound engineer and two video artists was inspired by the concept of change when composing “Landscape”. In this audio-visual concert based in shifting perspective the musicians conducted by the young Vienna-based Hungarian composer and conductor Csaba Ajtony constantly change their positions, while different parts of the human body processed visually on different spatial planes are projected on a giant screen in the background. The evening focuses on young composers from Central Eastern Europe who examine a few characteristic concepts of the paradigm changes of the 20th century in their compositions.

James Dillon [1950], one of the most exciting figures of Scottish contemporary music, in 2004 completed his first opera based on a bloody episode in ancient Greek mythology. The tragically beautiful story of Philomela, raped and her tongue cut out but finally transformed into a nightingale, is an especially exciting subject for an opera because, in the words of the author: “No longer able to sing, Philomela, the friend of melody, invents a new means of expression to tell her tale.” The work using three singers, a chamber ensemble and live electronics, according to its creators a unique blend of baroque opera and Japanese No theatre, also strives to achieve this. The world première of Philomela in Portugal in 2004 was an enormous success. It has since been staged in many cities of Europe. The work is being brought to the Budapest Autumn Festival by the artists who gave the first performance, with the famous Finnish soprano, Anu Komsi in the leading role.

The consciousness modifying effect of music is well known, and it is also well known that despite this it has not (yet) been placed on the list of banned stimulants. One of the best known ensembles of the international contemporary music scene, the Klangforum Wien, revives a tradition thousands of years old by following the example of Plato and inviting fans of contemporary music to a great musical Feast. The unique production lasting almost eight hours and spanning a period of music history ranging from Mahler, through Iannis Xenakis to Morton Feldman will have real gastronomic support: those who come to the big hall can rest on cushions with a glass of wine to sip as they listen to the music, then fill it again as they listen to more music. We can observe how the ecstasy of alcohol modifies the reception of music, experiencing anew the unity of mind and body. What once belonged together can be reunited again in 21st century Budapest: the seemingly different worlds of Apollo and Dionysus always merge into each other in the ecstasy of music.

Italian-born Amelia Cuni who has been living in Berlin since 1992 has spent more than a decade and a half in India where she studied different forms of music and dance. She is a recognised representative of dhrupad singing, the most ancient form of Indian music, but since the 1990s she has also participated in numerous contemporary music productions and experimental music events. On this occasion she has chosen Solo 58 from Song Books, John Cage’s major series written in 1970. The Solo comprises 18 parts of indeterminate structure, in which each part is based on a microtonal raga meaning that it is built up of melodic modules in the spirit of Indian musical tradition. The artist, renowned for her charismatic performing style, is coming to Budapest with two percussionists. In 2001 she took part in a performance of the entire Song Books and since then has won enormous acclaim at many festivals around the world with Solo 58.

Last summer the Magic Feet group made up of Scottish jazz and folk musicians and Hungarian Gypsy musicians won a grand prix at the Edinburgh Festival. Since then the group has been joined by new – Brazilian and Bulgarian – members and has changed its name [to Miraculous Jam All Stars], but it has not lost any of its initial energy. In their latest production these musicians from different music cultures quote from Bartók or refer to Bartók, to create a unique musical world where Romanian, Bulgarian, Hungarian and Gypsy melodies find a perfect home in jazz imbued with the legacy of Bartók. The musicians include the legendary cimbalom player Kálmán Balogh, the Bulgarian accordion virtuoso Martin Lubenov now living in Vienna, and Brian Kellock, perhaps the most acclaimed pianist on the Scottish jazz scene. And the group’s vocal soloist is no other than Bea Palya of the enchanting voice and personality who is gradually becoming a world star.