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

János Balázs is a highly accomplished Hungarian pianist who began his career at the age of 16, having won the Franz Liszt International Piano Competition. He has received numerous international awards, including the ECHO Rising Star and Young Steinway Artist titles, and has been recognised in Poland for performing all of Frédéric Chopin’s works. Balázs is a permanent jury member for several prestigious competitions and has released over 15 albums. He is dedicated to performing and recording the works of contemporary Hungarian composers, particularly László Dubrovay’s complete piano pieces. His solo recital programme pays tribute to the legendary 20th-century Hungarian pianist, György Cziffra. Balázs is set to promote Cziffra’s life’s work and artistic legacy as widely as possible, with a programme ranging from emblematic works of Romantic piano literature to contemporary Hungarian music. The programme opens with Chopin and features works by the recently deceased Péter Eötvös and János Balázs’s close friend, László Dubrovay. The first three pieces draw inspiration from water, as seen in works by Chopin, Liszt and Strauss. This is followed by a Wagner paraphrase and one of Liszt’s most famous works: the Dante Sonata, frequently performed by Cziffra. Next, Hungarian music and improvisation take centre stage. First, János Balázs will perform an improvisation based on Hungarian folk music motifs. This is followed by character pieces by the aforementioned world-famous contemporary Hungarian composers. The evening will conclude with Liszt’s 6th Hungarian Rhapsody, inspired by Hungarian Gypsy music, a particular favourite of György Cziffra’s.

Supporter: Ministry of Culture and Innovation Hungary

János Balázs is a highly accomplished Hungarian pianist who began his career at the age of 16, having won the Franz Liszt International Piano Competition. He has received numerous international awards, including the ECHO Rising Star and Young Steinway Artist titles, and has been recognised in Poland for performing all of Frédéric Chopin’s works. Balázs is a permanent jury member for several prestigious competitions and has released over 15 albums. He is dedicated to performing and recording the works of contemporary Hungarian composers, particularly László Dubrovay’s complete piano pieces. His solo recital programme pays tribute to the legendary 20th-century Hungarian pianist, György Cziffra. Balázs is set to promote Cziffra’s life’s work and artistic legacy as widely as possible, with a programme ranging from emblematic works of Romantic piano literature to contemporary Hungarian music. The programme opens with Chopin and features works by the recently deceased Péter Eötvös and János Balázs’s close friend, László Dubrovay. The first three pieces draw inspiration from water, as seen in works by Chopin, Liszt and Strauss. This is followed by a Wagner paraphrase and one of Liszt’s most famous works: the Dante Sonata, frequently performed by Cziffra. Next, Hungarian music and improvisation take centre stage. First, János Balázs will perform an improvisation based on Hungarian folk music motifs. This is followed by character pieces by the aforementioned world-famous contemporary Hungarian composers. The evening will conclude with Liszt’s 6th Hungarian Rhapsody, inspired by Hungarian Gypsy music, a particular favourite of György Cziffra’s.

A joint concert of the Cziffra festival and the Liszt Institute Brussels. 

Supporter: Ministry of Culture and Innovation Hungary

Free admission, registration:  https://forms.gle/DWC948hQ1mVVAypo7

It is a rare occasion when the world-renowned French pianist David Fray — often dubbed the enfant terrible of the instrument — gives a solo recital in Budapest. Fray is recognized as one of the most influential Bach interpreters of our time, known for his dazzling, sometimes even shocking virtuosity that captivates audiences around the globe.

This evening’s program, part of the Cziffra Festival, begins in the Baroque era — a period of experimentation and the crystallization of musical norms — but presents Bach’s well-known works through the lens of the 20th century, thanks to arrangements by August Stradal, Samuil Feinberg, and Wilhelm Kempff.

While Fray places great emphasis on fidelity to the score, creativity is equally central to his artistry. From this unique blend emerges a level of virtuosity that perfectly aligns with the musical legacy represented by the Cziffra Festival.

In the first half of the concert, the French Baroque makes an appearance through works by Couperin and Rameau, culminating in three sonatas by the Neapolitan-born Scarlatti. And since the theme is experimentation, the finale gives voice to Richard Wagner — the great reformer, or perhaps fulfiller, of German art born of Bach’s legacy — whose musical visions are here reimagined through the language of the piano, in transcriptions by Franz Liszt and Hans von Bülow.

David Fray appears by arrangement of Arabella Arts. www.arabella-arts.com

The Cziffra Festival is supported by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Bethlen Gábor Fund Management Ltd., and the Ministry of Culture and Innovation.

Programme

The unique and innovative collaboration between Erika Miklósa and János Balázs, and the onstage magic they create together, has become not only a signature feature of the Cziffra Festival but also a distinctive highlight of Hungary’s classical music scene in recent years. There could be no more fitting occasion to further deepen their musical and artistic partnership than the birthday of the festival’s namesake—a highly anticipated annual event dedicated to preserving and celebrating the intellectual and musical legacy of György Cziffra.

This special evening, focused on the interplay between opera, the soprano voice, and the piano, will be enriched by the presence of Argentine tenor José Cura, whose unique musical style expands and complements the original concept, opening up new artistic perspectives. A versatile vocal artist, Cura is also known to Hungarian audiences as a conductor and composer. He has previously shared the stage with Erika Miklósa, and has performed in chamber partnership with János Balázs as part of the festival—but the three of them have never appeared together in this configuration. Their new collaboration and the South American colors woven into the program promise an exceptional musical journey—not only for the performers but for the audience as well.

The Cziffra Festival Awards will be presented at the beginning of the concert.

The Cziffra Festival is supported by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Bethlen Gábor Fund, and the Ministry of Culture and Innovation.

The Cziffra Festival, celebrating its 10th jubilee year in 2025, is coming to  Brussels this year with two special concerts to introduce the young stars of classical music. This evening, the audience will meet Ildikó Rozsonits, a young pianist who gained admission to the School for Exceptional Young Talents of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music at just ten. Her musical career has been soaring high ever since: In 2022, she was awarded the Junior Prima Award, and in 2024, she won the Creative Artist Award of the Cziffra Festival. In the framework of the Talentum Hungaricum programme, she continues to learn and improve her skills under János Balázs’ mentorship. The Cziffra Festival aims to support young talents and provide them with the opportunity to make an international debut. “Talent management is a very multifaceted undertaking, and we strive to cover as many aspects of it as possible,” said János Balázs, the festival’s Artistic Director. These evenings not only provide an exceptional musical experience but also give the audience a chance to meet the most promising young artists of the future of classical music. 

(Joint concert of the Cziffra Festival and the Liszt Institute Hungarian Cultural Centre Brussels) 

Funded by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Gábor Bethlen Fund and the Ministry of Culture and Innovation

Hailed for her “colorful, flexible and expressive playing” (Res Musica), pianist Alexa Stier has performed extensively in Europe, the United States and in South America. Alexa is a prizewinner of the Olivier Messiaen International Piano Competition, the Orléans International Piano Competition, and the George Enescu International Piano Competition and the founder and artistic director of ContemporArt Chamber Music Festival. Alexa holds diplomas from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Yale School of Music, where she is currently a doctoral candidate.

Hungarian clarinetist Noémi Sallai, praised for her „smooth fluency” by The Milbrook Independent, was selected as the sole clarinet fellow in Carnegie Hall’s prestigious music program, Ensemble Connect for the 2018-2020 season. A multiple prize winner in national and international competitons in Italy, Hungary, Slovenia and the United States, Ms. Sallai has spent her summers at the Crescendo Summer Institute, the Sarasota Music Festival and the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, and appeared as a clarinetist in renowned groups such as the Budapest Festival Orchestra and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Sallai holds a Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School of Music and a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Bard College. Ms. Sallai currently serves as the Cultural Attaché of the Liszt Institute Hungarian Cultural Center New York.

Joint concert of the Cziffra Fesztival and the Liszt Institute New York.

Supported by: The Prime Minister’s Office, Bethlen Gábor Fund, Ministry of Culture and Innovation