Performers:

Emilia Hoving conductor
János Balázs piano
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Piano passion, Hungarian style: Emilia Hoving conducts Bartók, Kodály and Liszt.

“The forests, the cascading Danube, the wide, open fields… this is my homeland, this wild, untamed nation!” Franz Liszt never did anything by halves, and when he discovered the folk music of his native Hungary, his imagination caught fire.

That passionate spirit blazes through this sizzling concert from RPO Associate Conductor Emilia Hoving, a celebration of untamed rhythms, endless longing and melodies that tingle like paprika. Zoltán Kodály tells the tallest of musical fairytales, and his friend Bartók toasts the foundation of the city of Budapest, throwing a chain of dances right across the Danube.

But first, we’ll hear from Liszt himself – music by the greatest pianist who ever lived. No problem for our soloist, Hungarian pianist János Balázs: “I’m a real romantic,” he says.

This concert is jointly presented by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cziffra Festival.

Supporters: National Cultural Fund, Ministry of Culture and Innovation

Three concerts. A single day. A single performer. A single oeuvre.

Sunday, 8 November, 11 am, 3 pm and 7 pm – Liszt Academy

The Great Liszt Marathon is a true world sensation, as János Balázs will perform Liszt’s 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies, 12 Transcendental Études and 6 Paganini Études, several other significant Liszt compositions and the peak of his oeuvre: his Sonata in B minor. The commitment of pianist János Balázs is nothing less than to create a musical experience that is unique and unrepeatable through the oeuvre of the greatest musical artist of the Hungarian nation.

In the interpretation of Liszt’s oeuvre, it is not a mere set of sheet music, but an imprint of the entire human existence: from the youthful, virtuoso fire to the transcendent depths, from the rhapsodies of the Hungarian soul to the philosophical quest of later years. The marathon within the framework of the Cziffra Festival “squeezes” this infinite universe into one monumental day, which, according to János Balázs’s credo, is much more than a technical feat: it is a real spiritual initiation, during which the performer and the audience can walk together through the life-changing stages of Liszt’s life path. The concert stream conquers the most exhausting and, at the same time, the most beautiful peaks of piano literature. Already the diversity of the works in the opening – from the dramatic Dante Sonata and poetic Funerailles to the sparkling opera paraphrases and the Spanish folk music motifs – mobilises all the hidden reserves of the instrument, and later the 12 Transcendental and 6 Paganini Études will prove that challenging technical limits in Liszt’s oeuvre are always ennobled with deep spiritual content. At the end of the journey, after the flowing melodic stream of the 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies, the large-scale Sonata in B minor brings tranquility, opening new doors for the audience. This day is an exceptional occasion for the most dedicated music lovers and discoverers to find answers to the eternal whys of the passion for piano playing in the interpretation of János Balázs. Also, for a concert, we pay tribute together to the spiritual legacy of György Cziffra, whose art launched not only János Balázs, but countless other artists as well on the path to musical fulfilment.

Three concerts. A single day. A single performer. A single oeuvre.

Sunday, 8 November, 11 am, 3 pm and 7 pm – Liszt Academy

The Great Liszt Marathon is a true world sensation, as János Balázs will perform Liszt’s 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies, 12 Transcendental Études and 6 Paganini Études, several other significant Liszt compositions and the peak of his oeuvre: his Sonata in B minor. The commitment of pianist János Balázs is nothing less than to create a musical experience that is unique and unrepeatable through the oeuvre of the greatest musical artist of the Hungarian nation.

In the interpretation of Liszt’s oeuvre, it is not a mere set of sheet music, but an imprint of the entire human existence: from the youthful, virtuoso fire to the transcendent depths, from the rhapsodies of the Hungarian soul to the philosophical quest of later years. The marathon within the framework of the Cziffra Festival “squeezes” this infinite universe into one monumental day, which, according to János Balázs’s credo, is much more than a technical feat: it is a real spiritual initiation, during which the performer and the audience can walk together through the life-changing stages of Liszt’s life path. The concert stream conquers the most exhausting and, at the same time, the most beautiful peaks of piano literature. Already the diversity of the works in the opening – from the dramatic Dante Sonata and poetic Funerailles to the sparkling opera paraphrases and the Spanish folk music motifs – mobilises all the hidden reserves of the instrument, and later the 12 Transcendental and 6 Paganini Études will prove that challenging technical limits in Liszt’s oeuvre are always ennobled with deep spiritual content. At the end of the journey, after the flowing melodic stream of the 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies, the large-scale Sonata in B minor brings tranquility, opening new doors for the audience. This day is an exceptional occasion for the most dedicated music lovers and discoverers to find answers to the eternal whys of the passion for piano playing in the interpretation of János Balázs. Also, for a concert, we pay tribute together to the spiritual legacy of György Cziffra, whose art launched not only János Balázs, but countless other artists as well on the path to musical fulfilment.

Three concerts. A single day. A single performer. A single oeuvre.

The Great Liszt Marathon is a true world sensation, as János Balázs will perform Liszt’s 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies, 12 Transcendental Études and 6 Paganini Études, several other significant Liszt compositions and the peak of his oeuvre: his Sonata in B minor. The commitment of pianist János Balázs is nothing less than to create a musical experience that is unique and unrepeatable through the oeuvre of the greatest musical artist of the Hungarian nation.

In the interpretation of Liszt’s oeuvre, it is not a mere set of sheet music, but an imprint of the entire human existence: from the youthful, virtuoso fire to the transcendent depths, from the rhapsodies of the Hungarian soul to the philosophical quest of later years. The marathon within the framework of the Cziffra Festival “squeezes” this infinite universe into one monumental day, which, according to János Balázs’s credo, is much more than a technical feat: it is a real spiritual initiation, during which the performer and the audience can walk together through the life-changing stages of Liszt’s life path. The concert stream conquers the most exhausting and, at the same time, the most beautiful peaks of piano literature. Already the diversity of the works in the opening – from the dramatic Dante Sonata and poetic Funerailles to the sparkling opera paraphrases and the Spanish folk music motifs – mobilises all the hidden reserves of the instrument, and later the 12 Transcendental and 6 Paganini Études will prove that challenging technical limits in Liszt’s oeuvre are always ennobled with deep spiritual content. At the end of the journey, after the flowing melodic stream of the 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies, the large-scale Sonata in B minor brings tranquility, opening new doors for the audience. This day is an exceptional occasion for the most dedicated music lovers and discoverers to find answers to the eternal whys of the passion for piano playing in the interpretation of János Balázs. Also, for a concert, we pay tribute together to the spiritual legacy of György Cziffra, whose art launched not only János Balázs, but countless other artists as well on the path to musical fulfilment.

Pianist János Balázs is a featured artist of the Concerto Budapest season, and at the same time a worthy representative of the incomparable intellectual and artistic legacy of György Cziffra. Under the baton of András Keller, he will guide the audience into the intricacies of the rhapsody as a musical genre. Defined as a loosely structured, often folk-inspired, fantasy-like instrumental work, four masterpieces — not so different in age but very diverse in musical background — will be performed during this evening of the Cziffra Festival.

Ravel’s rhapsody, with its Andalusian motifs, has been described as “more Spanish than the Spaniards themselves,” and opens the concert. It is followed by Rachmaninoff’s composition, which revives Italian virtuoso traditions. In this work, the Russian-born composer, who emigrated to the United States, takes the famous theme of Paganini’s 24th Caprice as the starting point. Liszt also worked with this theme, and on this occasion his Second Rhapsody is included in the program, blending Hungarian and Romanian folk motifs, providing a perfect bridge to the grand finale: Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, a true audience favorite known for its synthetic brilliance, in which the composer, equally at home in the world of revue, showcases the most characteristic American motifs.

(A joint concert of the Cziffra Festival and Concerto Budapest)

Supported by: Prime Minister’s Office, Bethlen Gábor Fund Management Ltd.

Performers:
Kálmán Balogh (cimbalom), Mihály Dresch (winds), Mónika Lakatos (vocals)
Sárik Péter Trio: Péter Sárik (piano), Tamás Péter (bass guitar), Attila Gálfi (drums)

Host: András Batta

The Cziffra Festival invites audiences to its two-part unique production series entitled Champions League. The first concert brings together outstanding artists of jazz and folk music, appearing on the stage in surprising, previously unheard formations.

Among the guest artists is Kálmán Balogh, Kossuth Prize–winning virtuoso of the cimbalom, who has long been committed to the stylistically refined fusion of folklore, classical music, and jazz. The evening is further enriched by Mihály Dresch, also a Kossuth Prize-awarded musician, whose personal musical language—whether in solo projects or with his ensembles—adds a distinctive character to the program.The third soloist of the concert is Mónika Lakatos, recipient of both the WOMEX Lifetime Achievement Award and the Kossuth Prize. Through her work, she preserves and revitalizes the pure traditions of gypsy culture, creating a unique world-music sound deeply rooted in her own musical heritage.

Their performances are complemented by the Sárik Péter Trio, who have delighted audiences by building bridges between jazz motifs and the works of the great masters of music history, including Beethoven and Bartók, revealing shared musical essences across genres.

The audience will be guided throughout the evening by András Batta, Széchenyi Prize–winning music historian.

At the beginning of the concert, the Cziffra Festival Awards will be presented.

Supporters of the Cziffra Festival:
Prime Minister’s Office of Hungary; Bethlen Gábor Fund

A musical Champions League, where the audience can be certain that something truly unique and extraordinary is about to happen. On the second evening of this special series created within the framework of the Cziffra Festival, some of Hungary’s most outstanding, world-class artists take the stage together.

Following the opening concert with a focus on jazz and folk music, this evening now belongs to the representatives of classical music—not to compete, but to support one another as a team, creating a shared musical experience. Since its very beginning, the Cziffra Festival has been known for developing distinctive program structures that are uniquely its own. Such concepts are a natural fit for Kristóf Baráti, Kossuth Prize–winning violinist and masterclass leader at the festival, as well as for Gergely Bogányi, the internationally acclaimed pianist renowned for his innovative concerts and for carrying forward the musical legacy of György Cziffra.

Technically brilliant, musically intimate, and consistently creative—these could well be the guiding words of the evening, and they also perfectly describe the artistry of the fourth performer of the night, Gábor Boldoczki. On this occasion, he joins János Balázs and his guests to explore, through the interplay of piano, violin, and trumpet, the synthesis of musical expression, stylistic diversity, and artistic collaboration.

The audience will be guided throughout the evening by András Batta, Széchenyi Prize–winning music historian.

At the beginning of the concert, the Cziffra Festival Awards will be presented.

Host: Szilvia Becze

Supporters of the Cziffra Festival:
Prime Minister’s Office of Hungary; Bethlen Gábor Fund

Ernő Kállai (violin), Elemér Balázs Jr., János Balázs (piano)

Kállai Quartet: Ernő Kállai, Géza Szajkó (violin), Kálmán Dráfi Jr. (viola), István Balázs (cello)

Host: Kálmán Dráfi

The Cziffra Festival and the Liszt Museum’s joint exhibition aims to showcase the piano training provided by the Liszt Academy, a straight line that can be traced through four generations from Liszt to the university’s piano professors of today. In connection with this, this time the works of Dohnányi, one of the leading piano teachers of the 20^th century, will be performed, including the Sonata for Violin and Piano in C-sharp minor, Op. 21, which was premiered in Vienna in 1912 and the composer himself played the keyboard part; and the Piano Quintet No. 1 in C minor, perhaps one of the most frequently performed pieces in Dohnányi’s oeuvre. The composition, designated Op. 1, is in fact a final exam piece, about which Brahms himself is reported to have said: “I could not have written it better myself.” The concert will be hosted by Kálmán Dráfi, who, as a student of György Cziffra and former teacher of János Balázs, artistic director of the festival, faithfully passes on the essence of his knowledge to generations of pianists.

Presented by: Cziffra Festival and Liszt Ferenc Memorial Museum and Research Centre

Supported by: the Prime Minister’s Office and the Bethlen Gábor Fund