Pianist Virág Kiss and cellist Sándor Dezso recently presented Western classic renditions in Delhi. The duo told I Kaur that Indians, if trained properly, can beat some of the best symphonic orchestra in the world
It is often said that when a cello is played with the piano, it changes the way either sounds. Known as one of the favourite combinations of musical instruments, the piano-cello renditions are romantic and classical. However, India doesn’t know much of it. How deeply engaged the country is in the piano, the farther it is to the cello. Thus when pianist Virág Kiss and cellist Sándor Dezso came to perform in the Capital at the India International Centre recently, people eagerly waited to see what they would present. The auditorium was miffed with silence before Kiss fingers began their tantalising movements over the keys of the piano and Dezso’s cello broke the monotony. David Popper’s Hungarian Rhapsody op 68 filled the hall with romantic passion as the couple challenged the odds of a western classical realm in India. “Indians tend to pursue lesser string instruments because they are considered difficult,” said Dezso as he took us through his experience in the country. Kiss added, “We have been taking classes at the Delhi Music Society and I feel that people are interested in these instruments but they don’t get enough opportunities. If Indians learn properly, they have the capability to beat some of the world’s best symphonic orchestra because the understanding of music here is good.”
This was the first time the duo was presenting a concert in India. The event was organised by the Delhi Music Society in collaboration with Balassi Institute, Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre. In the hour-long programme, both Kiss and Dezso presented works of popular music maestros like Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Zoltán Kodály and Saint-Saëns. They played one piece composed by Dezso as well called Sonatina. “I wanted to compose a very brief item which was not more than 10 minutes but highlighted a lot of different aspects. So the piece was divided into three parts and expressed optimism, trust and faith. It also had traces of struggle along with determination to reach a certain goal. I composed it in a typical classic Sonata fashion,” he said and went on to explain the three parts. “The first part was more energetic and dynamic and gave out powerful emotions. The second part was very emotional while the third was humourous and playful with a few shocking elements here and there,” he shared.
Kiss and Dezso started their journey in 2005 when they met at University. Since then they have been working together and eventually got married. Their chemistry reflects in the music they play. “Dezso composes everything while I follow his vision. I have always played the piano while he plays the piano, cello and classical guitar. So he has a lot more knowledge than me,” shared Kiss.
Dezso started playing music at the age of five. He mastered the cello and continued playing the rest as secondary instruments. However, when he met Kiss, “the amalgamation of both instruments felt like putting two souls in one body,” he elaborated.
Apart from knowing these instruments, Dezso also studied composition where he learnt Indian music. “I learnt all about ragas and how to read Indian music. I have always been intrigued towards it but since I was passionate about the cello and Western classical music, I didn’t pursue Indian music further,” he said and added, “I will never want to fuse Indian and Western classical together because when you do that, both lose their essence.”
Kiss and Dezso are currently on their way to France for a musical tour.