Panegyricus

“Panegyricus”, I composed between 1971 and 1972 is a scenic play for vocal soloists, actors, dancers, choir and orchestra. This work recounts the life of Janus Pannonius (1434-1472), the most famous poet of the Hungarian Renaissance. Chancellor of the Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus then, later, bishop of the city of Pécs, he wrote Latin poems praising love and the homeland.

The premiere took place on March 27, 1972 in Pécs. Although it was a great success, it was only performed three times. As I had invested a lot in this work and in order not to lose this musical material into which I had put so much energy, I used the instrumental parts to create an octet (like that of Schubert) which was entitled " La cour du roi Matthias” and, with the choirs, I made an oratorio, “Vita poetae”. — Ferenc Farkas