Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, dear Music Lovers,

This is my premiere occasion to greet you as artistic leader of a Hungarian orchestra. It is a great pleasure to me since I visited Hungary during the last 45 years as a guest artist, however, when landing at the airport I often felt that I am at home rather than being a visitor.

As an artist residing in Europe, I have experienced and got used that arts – music principally – are borderless. Either in space, or in time. They do not grant frontiers, and do not select by cities or ages, but quest for quality and innovation. These are what I have found at the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra where by coming home I stay in Europe.

Having had diverse experience in Hungary, I am especially delighted to greet you as subscription or ticket owner of this orchestra at the concerts in Budapest. It manifests that as a European like myself, you pursuit prime quality. In the recent years, the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra has demonstrated a musical standard that could prevail in any countries of Europe. That is why I have committed to their invitation, as I believe you have so.

Though I took part in the programme composition for this season just to certain extent, I can assure you that the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra offers you an excellent repertoire for the spring of 2010. We are greeting esteemed guest artists at our concerts every month, as well as we are playing contemporary pieces which are also to my delight, personally.

This year, Pécs is the European Capital of Culture. I reckon this fact of special significance. It evinces that the city set a high value on culture, arts, and humanism. Music and arts are all animated by decision-makers and citizens of a city throughout generations. I declare one of the most important aspects that supported my decision to take the musical directorship of the Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra is the Concert Hall being constructed in Pécs. For me, it is not merely about the building itself, since I have conducted performances in the most prominent concert halls of the world, all with excellent acoustic spaces. My point is to be part of a generative process in Hungary: the building opens up opportunity for renaissance and enrichment of the musical life in Pécs, while creators and performers will be able to produce concerts and projects on European standards. This is a fascinating challenge and task in any place around the globe.

The Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra invites you to productions that will certainly satisfy you visiting the Capital of Culture.

Remaining with my best regards, welcome to our concerts in 2010.

Zoltán Peskó
Musical Director

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