The Péter Sárik Trio has begun its tour of Transylvania, performing jazzy reproductions of Béla Bartók’s classical compositions. In an interview with Transtelex, Sárik said the unique approach to the legendary Hungarian composer’s music all began with a request to ‘jazzify’ Beethoven’s music, after which the trio realized there is a composer back home who wrote “pure jazz.”
“He’s our own, it’s natural that we play Bartók,” the musician explained. There are significant boons to reworking such a grand historical figure’s music as well, Sárik added, as it is a good way to market to a larger audience.
Luckily not just us, but more and more classical musicians see the need to advertise our genre and to try to reach a broader audience in new, unique, and interesting ways.”
Sárik said there was great weight in approaching Bartók’s work and doing it right, “this is especially why I worked with great humility, attention, and respect.”
I had to get to know him, as a person, not as the giant genius, but as the short, fragile, reserved little man walking amongst us. […] I sometimes even felt like he was sitting right there next to me at the piano.”
The Péter Sárik Trio’s tour spans Marosvásárhely (Târgu Mureș) on June 2, Székelyudvarhely (Odorheiu Secuiesc) on June 3, Csíkszereda (Miercurea Ciuc) on June 5, Pürkerec (Purcăreni) on June 7, Kézdivásárhely (Târgu Secuiesc) on June 8, Sepsiszentgyörgy (Sfântu Gheorghe) on June 9, Câmpina on June 10, Brassó (Brașov) on June 11, Déva on June 12, Nagykároly (Carei) on June 14, and Szatmárnémeti (Satu Mare) on June 15. The dates of their concerts can be found on their website.
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