"THE YOUNG HÄNDEL AND HIS MASTERS"

The musical activity of Georg Friedrich Handel was revealed at an early age, even so, his father, Georg Handel the elder, had different plans in mind, and would rather have seen his son a lawyer rather than a musician, trying to thwart the young Handel’s artistic ambitions. According to legend, the ambitious youth bought a small, second-hand clavichord on which he would practice in the attic secretly. Later on, Handel applied for the faculty of law but would only stay for a year after which he openly declared for music. The composer brought with himself the sheet music book from his youth to London containing the works of well-known keyboard music composers, compiled with the help of the late master, Zachow. This collection proved to be a source of inspiration even in Handel’s later years.

ZSOMBOR TÓTH-VAJNA
A specialist in early keyboard instruments and a conductor, Zsombor Tóth-Vajna is one of the outstanding figures of this generation of young Hungarian musicians. He is a frequent guest at concert venues in Hungary and abroad, from the Thomaskirche in Leipzig to Westminster Abbey in London, and he has appeared as keyboard soloist and conductor not only in many countries in Europe, but also in the United States.