On the national holiday, as its traditions decree, the Pannon Philharmonic cherrypicks from works written by past and contemporary Hungarian masters. This time, however, Beethoven will also feature on the programme. The 15 March always allows us to look back on the past of our home country, how we've seen ourselves, and how others have seen us. And the vast pool of music history gives us a chance each year to address these questions from a different angle. One of the honorary guests of this year's festive concert is Beethoven, who paid tribute to King Stephen and his merits from a German perspective. Among the composers, we'll also welcome Jenő Takács from the 20th century, who evokes the world of old Hungarian dances and songs. Ernst von Dohnányi ensures that fun and humour are included, while we can enjoy the Rákóczi March – the 19th-century symbol of Hungarian identity – in Berlioz's worldwide popular version.