Musical trilogy

“It’s been a long,fulfilling and rewarding journey,” says Balázs Kakuk,founder of the Haydn Baryton Trio. Founded 29 years ago in 1980 the group was formed with the main purpose of reviving the compositions of Joseph Haydn. “We founded the group for the simple reason that we could take the works of Haydn as well as other contemporaries like

J. Burgksteiner,L. Tomasini,A. Neumann and A. Lidl,so that audiences across the globe could identify and relate to their compositions,” he adds.

While Kakuk is a professor at the Ferenc Liszt Music Academy in Budapest,the other two members namely Anna Magdaléna Kakuk and András Kaszanyitzky are also in leagues of their own. While Anna is a seasoned viola performer at nations across the globe,Kaszanyitzky is a permanent member of the Weiner-Szász Chamber Symphony Orchestra.

Speaking about what makes them click as a group,Kaszanyitzky says,“I think it is our love for music,and the similarities in our ways of propagating the same. In fact when we began we were students in front of Professor Kakuk,but gradually over time we have become friends,and very thick ones too,if I may add.”

The ensemble almost exclusively plays the works of Joseph Haydn,almost 200 compositions in number for the Baryton,which is an original instrument developed by Prince Esterházy Miklós,the Magnificent. They play all the Baryton trios from Haydn as well as quintets,octets and the Baryton divertimenti from other composers of the Esterházy circle. While that might sound like complex lingo for average lay people who do not have a taste for the finer and more refined things in life,it is poetry for these three members. “It’s all about being able to cultivate taste for appreciating fine music,” says Anna.

As far as their performance in the city is concerned Kaszanyitzky feels that the audience in the city is mature enough to give musicians a chance to express themselves. “While it might not be very important to be a connoisseur of music to show off in front of people,it is important to be able to be receptive,communicative,and be able to absorb what first time musicians wish to tell the audiences. We believe that that is something that this city has,and hope that we can connect with them,on that level where audiences and musicians connect,” adds Anna.

(The trio will be performing in the city at Mazda Hall,Camp,7 pm onwards on December 9)