Oratorios & Cantatas
An important part of Gyöngyösi’s oeuvre is the oratorical works, some of which can be linked to traditional oratorical genres (St LUKE-PASSION, CHRISTMAS ORATORIO), but there are completely non-traditional adaptations of traditional genres among them (MISSA VANITAS VANITATUM), as well as several Hungarian-language oratorios with historical themes (A DUNÁNÁL, ISTENKÉP, LENNI VAGY NEM, KATONASIRATÓ).
A Dunánál (By The Danube)
Commissioned by Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
Genre: concert aria with orchestra
Duration: 10′
Year of composition: 2024
Movements: 1
Text: Attila József
Orchestration: 2Fl (I. anche Fl.a.), 2Ob, 2Cl, 2Fag, Cfag, 2Cor, 2Tr, 3Trb, Timp, Vibr, Trg, Tom-tom, Tam-tam, Gr.c., Cel, Arpa, B solo, Archi
Venue and date of first performance: Liszt Academy Budapest, November 17, 2025
Performers: Krisztián Cser – bass solo, Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. by Gábor Hontvári
Sheet music (Universal Edition)
Cantici Fratris Sole
Commissioned by Gábor Baross
Genre: Oratorio
Duration: 48′
Year of composition: 2003
Movements: 15
Orchestration: S, A, T, B soli, choir, Org, Archi
Venue and date of the first performance: Matthias Church, Budapest, 04. 03, 2004
Performers: Andrea Csereklyei, Atala Schöck, Timothy Bench, István Kovács – singing, Choir & Orchestra of ELTE University, cond. by Gábor Baross
Audio (Mvts 1-8)
Andrea Csereklyei – S. solo, Atala Schöck – A. solo, László Kálmán – T. solo, István Kovács – B. solo; Orfeo Orchestra, Purcell Choir, cond. by György Vashegyi
Sheet music (SysArt Ltd)
Csodálatos országban (In A Wonderful Country)
Commissioned by Monika Papp & Hungarian Evangelical Fellowship
Genre: Cantata
Duration: 22′
Year of composition: 2006
Movements: 8
Text: Magdolna Iványiné Sinka
Orchestration: S, T. solo, 4 szól. kórus, Org, Vl.1,2, V-la, Vlc
Venue and date of the first performance: Budapest, 11 Dankó Str, 10. 01, 2006
Performers: Ágnes Pintér – S. solo, László Honinger – T. solo, Vándor Choir, Kóródi Quartet, Márton Levente Horváth, cond. by Levente Gyöngyösi
Audio
Ágnes Kovács – S. solo, Judit Dévényi – A. solo, László Honinger, László Kálmán– T. solo, Béni Csillag – Bar. solo, Kóródi Quartet, Levente Gyöngyösi – Organ
Das Hohelied der Liebe
Commissioned by András László
Genre: Cantata
Duration: 11’30”
Year of composition: 2004
Movements: 1
Text: 1 Corinthians 13
Orchestration: B. solo, 2 Fl, 2 Ob, 2 Cl, 2 Fag, 4 Cor, 2 Tr, 3 Trb, Tuba, Timp, Vibr, Glsp, Camp, Crot, Trg, P-tto sosp, Tam-tam, Gr. c, Arpa, Cel, Archi
Venue and date of first performance: Liszt Academy, Budapest, 06. 01, 2006
Performers: Szabolcs Hámori – B. solo, European Doctors Orchestra, cond. by György Vashegyi
Audio
Krisztián Cser – B. solo, Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. by Tibor Bogányi
Sheet music (Kontrapunkt)
Elhagy (She Leaves Me)
Commissioned by Iván Fischer and Budapest Festival Orchestra
Genre: Cantata for Baritone and 17 performers
Duration: 11’30”
Year of composition: 2006
Movements: 1
Text: Anna Szabó T.
Orchestration: Bar. solo, Picc, Fl, Ob, Cl, Cl.b, Cfag, Cor, Tr, Trb, Timp, P-tto sosp, T-t, Arpa, Vl.1,2, V-la, Vlc, Cb
Venue and date of the first performance: Palace of Arts, Budapest, 09. 07, 2006
Performers: Ambrus Ákos – baritone, Budapest Festival Orchestra, cond. by Iván Fischer
Audio
Ákos Ambrus – baritone, Budapest Festival Orchestra, cond. by Iván Fischer
Istenkép (Image of God)
Commissioned by Gábor Hollerung
Genre: Cantata in memory of Hungarian revolution, 1956
Duration: 22′
Year of composition: 2006
Movements: 5
Text: Géza Szőcs
Orchestration: S, B. solo, Coro, 2 Fl (Fl. alto, Picc), 2 Ob, 2 Cl, 2 Fag, 4 Cor, 2 Tr, 3 Trb, Timp, Tamp, picc, Piatti, Tam-tam, Gr. c., Arpa, Archi
Venue and date of the first performance: Liszt Academy, Budapest, 10. 23, 2006
Performers: Gabriella Fodor – S. solo, Géza Gábor – B. solo; Angelica Girls’ Choir, Honvéd Male Choir, Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra, cond. by Gábor Hollerung
Audio
Gabriella Fodor – S. solo, Géza Gábor – B. solo; Angelica Girls’ Choir, Honvéd Male Choir, Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra, cond. by Gábor Hollerung
Sheet music (Kontrapunkt)
In te, Domine, speravi
Written for the 70th birthday of Dénes Szabó
Genre: Cantata for female choir and 3 instruments
Duration: 22′
Year of composition: 2017
Movements: 7
Text: Psalm 71
Orchestration: S, MS, A solo, Female choir, Fl, Vlc, Pf-te
Venue and date of the first performance: Palace of Arts, Budapest, 01. 27, 2018
Performers: István Matúz – Fl, Csaba Onczay – Vlc, László Baranyay – Pf-te; Pro Musica Girls’ Choir, cond. by Dénes Szabó
Audio
Márta Stefanik, Zita Acsai – S. solo, Ágnes Pintér – MS. solo, Viola Thurnay – A. solo; Zsófia Biró – Fl, Bálint Maróth – Vlc, Ádám Balogh – Pf-te; Seventeen Singers, cond. by Levente Gyöngyösi
1 Coro
2 Aria
3 Coro
4 Terzetto
5 Coro e Tempesta
6 Duetto
7 Coro
Sheet music (Kontrapunkt)
Karácsonyi oratórium (Christmas Oratorio)
Commissioned by László Kovács and Eötvös Ensemble of ELTE University
Genre: Oratorio
Duration: 44′
Year of composition: 2013
Movements: 15
Text: John, Luke, Isaiah, Kájoni: Cantionale Catholicum, Hungarian folksongs, Attila József
Orchestration: Evangelist (T solo), Angel/Mary (S solo), Three Kings (T, Bar, B solo), 3 Shepherds (T, Bar, B solo), Choir, Strings
Venue and date of the first performance: ELTE University, 12. 15, 2013
Performers: László Kálmán (Evangelist), Ildikó Szakács (Angel/Mary), Eötvös Ensemble of ELTE University, cond. by László Kovács
Score – Nr. 14. Settetto con Coro
Audio (Nr. 14. Settetto con coro)
Mary – Orsolya Nyakas, Cantemus Choir, Orfeo Orchestra, cond. by György Vashegyi
Sheet music (Kontrapunkt Music)
Katonasirató (Soldier Lament)
Commissioned by Kálmán Strausz and Honvéd Male Choir, commemorating World War I
Genre: Cantata for Soprano solo, male choir and orchestra
Duration: 16′
Year of composition: 2015
Movements: 1
Text: Morduin and Zuryen folk texts
Orchestration: S solo, Male choir, Picc, 2 Fl, 2 Ob, Cor. ing, 2 Cl, Cl. b, 2 Fag, Cfag, 4 Cor, 3 Tr, 3 Trb, Tuba, Timp, Xil, Trg, 5 P-tti sosp, Tamb, 3 P-tti chinesi, Rag, 3 Tom-tom, Tam-tam, Gr. c, Archi
Venue and date of the first performance: Hungarian National Museum, 11. 18, 2015
Performers: Edina Kersák – S. solo, Honvéd Male Choir, MÁV Symphony Orchestra, cond. by Kálmán Strausz
Audio (excerpt form the first performance)
Sheet music (Kontrapunkt)
Lenni vagy nem (To Be Or Not)
Commissioned by Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra
Genre: Oratorio in remembrance of the Treaty of Trianon
Duration: 32′
Year of composition: 2020
Movements: 5
Text: András Visky
Orchestration: SATB solo, Choir, 2 Fl, 2Ob, 2Cl, 2Fag, 4Cor, 2Tr, 3Trb, Tb, Timp, Glsp, Vibr, C. tub, Trg, Ptti, T. picc, 3 Tom-t, Tam-t, Gr. c, Arpa, Archi
Venue and date of the first performance: Pécs, Kodály Centre, 05. 29, 2022
Performers: Marianna Váradi – S solo, Andrea Meláth – A solo, Zoltán Megyesi – T solo, András Palerdi – B solo; Cantemus Choir, Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra, cond. by Tibor Bogányi
Sheet music (Kontrapunkt Music)
Lukács-passió (St Luke-Passion)
Commissioned by Zsolt Szefcsik and Erdődy Chamber Orchestra
Genre: Oratorio
Duration: 95′
Year of composition: 2008
Movements: 34
Text: Luke, other sacred texts from Old and New Testament
Orchestration: S, CT, T, Bar, B solo; Fl (Picc, Fl. alto), Ob (Cor. ing), Cl (Cl. b), Fag (Cfag), Tr, Trb, Arpa, Org, Archi
Venue and date of the first performance: Matthias Church, Budapest, 03. 28, 2008
Performers: Ágnes Kovács – S solo, Péter Bárány – CT solo, László Kálmán – Evangelist, T solo, Dávid Csizmár – Bar solo, István Kovács – Jesus; Purcell Choir, Erdődy Chamber Orchestra, cond. by György Vashegyi
Audio (first performance, Mvts 1-7)
Missa Vanitas vanitatum
Commissioned by Debrecen City, to the opening concert of the 19th Béla Bartók International Choir Competition, Debrecen
Genre: Mass for soloists, choir and orchestra
Duration: 38′
Year of composition: 2010
Movements: 5 (I Kyrie; II Gloria, III Credo; IV Sanctus; V Agnus Dei)
Text: mass text, Ecclesiastes, St John
Orchestration: S, B solo, Coro, 2 Fl (Fl. alto), 2 Ob, 2 Cl (Cl. b.), 2 Fag (Cfag), 4 Cor, 2 Tr, 3 Trb, Timp, Archi
Venue and date of the first performance: Kölcsey Centre, Debrecen, 07. 29, 2010
Performers: Szilvia Hamvasi – S solo, István Kovács – B solo; Kodály Choir Debrecen, Debrecen Symphony Orchestra, cond. by György Vashegyi
Audio (Mvt 2 – Gloria)
Eszter Zemlényi – S solo, Krisztián Cser – B solo; Kodály Choir Debrecen, Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra, cond. by Gábor Hollerung
Sheet music (Kontrapunkt Music)
