The Waltzing Princess Presented by Liszt Academy

What makes a waltz so special? Perhaps the countless questions it inspires. Where is the ballroom where it’s played? Who is dancing and with whom? What secret messages hide within the music? What might the dancers whisper to each other as they turn? And what does the swirling crowd look like to an onlooker? Above all, why a waltz? At first glance, the second movement of Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique seems like a conventional dance movement – the kind every symphony should have. But beneath the surface unfolds the next chapter of the artist’s love story: at this elegant ball, he once again glimpses the woman he adores. The movement features a recurring musical motif, a symbol of his obsession. In this matinée, Dániel Mona goes beyond this leitmotif to explore the fascinating world of the waltz itself, tracing its rich history through famous examples. The Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Marcell Dénes-Worowski, brings every tiny yet important detail to life.