On 1 May 2005 the Berliner Philharmoniker gave their fifteenth EUROPAKONZERT at the impressive Hungarian State Opera in Budapest. The concert program featured Bartók’s "Second Violin Concerto" performed by the Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos, who is widely regarded as one of the most exciting musicians of his generation. The concert opened with Berlioz’s overture Le Corsaire and the second half of the program comprised Stravinsky’s The Firebird, a spectacular orchestral piece inspired by the folk music of its composer’s native Russia.