Date/Time
Date(s) - 27/Jan/2024
Genre - Trios
Veronika Botos, viola
Péter Csongár, clarinet
Mónika Ruth Vida, piano
In a programme of W. A. Mozart: Kegelstatt trio KV 498 for clarinet-viola-piano, György Orbán: Sonata Grande for viola and piano, Béla Kovács: Hommage á Zoltán Kodály for clarinet solo and Max Bruch: 8 pieces Op. 83 for clarinet-viola-piano
Trio Amici owes its formation and name to one word: “friendship”. Péter Csongár and Veronika Botos have been friends for 20 years, and they needed a good pianist to play trios together. After meeting Mónika at a concert in 2018, Veronika felt that she had found the right musical partner. They have built a repertoire together with music from Frescobaldi and Couperin, to Classical and Romantic, to Contemporary music. They all think the same about music – it must be hard work, but with humility and mutual respect. They play often in Hungary but this is the first time they play in India as a trio.
Veronika Botos studied violin for 6 years and later switched to viola because of its warm sound. She continued her studies at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music between 1987 and 1993 under teachers like László Bársony, Sándor Nagy, György Kurtág and János Devich and also at the Menuhin Academy in Gstaad. She was a founding member the newly formed Hungarian Virtuosi chamber orchestra in 1989 and travelled with them all over the world. In 1992 she won the Pál Lukács Grand Prix Competition in Budapest and joined the Hungarian State Orchestra in 1993. In 1996 she became a violist of the Hungarian State Opera and since 2008 holds the position of solo violist of the Opera company. She has toured with them all over the world, also playing viola d’amore solos in special repertoire and in chamber music. She has had music specially composed for her by Paul Coleman and has been awarded the Hungarian Silver Cross of Merit for her exceptional contribution to Hungarian musical life. Veronika has a husband and three children.
Péter Csongár was interested in the clarinet as an instrument from an early age. Between 1984 and 1988, he studied at the Béla Bartók conservatoire with Sándor Kiss and continued his studies at the Faculty of Music of the University of Debrecen between 1988 and 1992. Thereafter, he went to the Royal Flemish Conservatory in Antwerp to learn clarinet from Walther Boeynkens and bass clarinet from Jan Guns, which led him to Osaka for his first solo concert in 1996. Since 1999, he is a lead clarinet player with the Hungarian State Opera. He lives in Budapest with his wife and two children.
Mónika Ruth Vida has a special talent as a pianist. From her early childhood she wanted to become a musician. She was 14 years old, when she won her first international piano competition in Serbia. Among her many achievements is her performance in Shanghai at the World Exhibition and an award from the Italian Parliament for her musical work. She has successfully participated in several piano competitions, including being the sole Hungarian artist at the XVIII International Chopin Piano Competition in 2021. In 2020 she received her honours degree and the Hungarian Junior Prima Award. Currently, she is pursuing her doctoral studies and raising her 3 little children.
