Held between 9–22 October, the festival embraces a wide range of genres. In addition to concerts, the schedule includes literary, visual arts, and performing arts events, according to organisers Müpa at a press briefing in Budapest.

Csaba Káel, CEO of Müpa, underlined the importance of a large-scale festival dedicated to Franz Liszt, describing him as a Hungarian genius who became a “brand” in his own lifetime and one of the 19th century’s true stars, comparable to Frédéric Chopin.

He highlighted Liszt’s remarkable life, his role in supporting talented contemporaries, and his early encouragement of composers who went on to transform 19th-century music, such as Wagner and Saint-Saëns.

As Káel put it: “Our goal is to bring Liszt into the 21st century, to have him here with us, as his art and his thinking still offer us much to reflect on today.”

Among the programme highlights:
 

• On 11 October at the House of Music Hungary, the Hungarian National Male Choir will dedicate an evening to Liszt’s lesser-known choral works composed between 1838 and 1847.

• Pianist János Palojtay joins the Gürzenich Orchestra of Cologne under Colombian conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada at Müpa on 18 October, performing works by Liszt and Brahms.

• At MOMKult on 20 October, composer-pianist Natalie Tenenbaum presents her own works alongside paraphrases inspired by Bach, Stravinsky, Debussy, Liszt, and others.

• The Israeli Chamber Project, an ensemble of world-class soloists, performs at the Budapest Music Center (BMC) on 21 October, with a programme featuring Debussy, Stravinsky, Bartók, Ravel, and a Liszt piece arranged by Saint-Saëns.

• Austrian composer and percussionist Lukas Ligeti will be the focus of a concert on 14 October at the BMC, where singers, marimba, and ensembles including Hopper and the Mivos Quartet will perform pieces reflecting his experiments with African traditions, electronics, and chamber music.

• The Danubia Orchestra, led by Argentine conductor Mariano Chiacchiarini, takes the stage at Müpa on 16 October with works by Gershwin, Piazzolla, and Ginastera, plus the Hungarian premiere of Portuguese composer Igor C. Silva’s new piece “Soma” for jazz quartet, electronics, and symphony orchestra.

• On 13 October, the UMZE Chamber Ensemble explores the connections between Erik Satie and film music, combining reconstructions of lost scores with new works inspired by avant-garde cinema.
   

Visual arts also play a strong role in the festival. The Ludwig Museum presents “Golden Repair – Delicate Connections,” an exhibition inspired by the Japanese kintsugi technique, exploring themes of breakage and healing. The Hungarian National Gallery honours painter Adolf Fényes with a special exhibition, while Art Market Budapest, Central and Eastern Europe’s leading contemporary art fair, returns as part of the festival at the MTK Sport Park.

One of this year’s most striking premieres will be “Walk My World,” an immersive theatre production by the internationally renowned Recirquel company. Staged in a vast 6,000-square-metre setting reminiscent of film sets, it invites audiences into a mythical universe through a story told in the language of dance and contemporary circus.

The festival also embraces contemporary popular music. Long-running Hungarian indie band Galaxisok perform at Müpa on 14 October. On 13 October, author Lili Kemény, winner of the Margó Prize, will discuss her 2024 book “Nem” with László Valuska, director of the Margó Literary Festival and Book Fair, joined by Benedek Szabó, singer-songwriter of Galaxisok.

The Autumn Margó Literary Festival at Millenáris and the National Dance Theatre will once again spotlight newly released works by leading Hungarian and international authors, with book launches, discussions, and concerts. Meanwhile, the all-day PONT Festival in the Museum Garden will introduce visitors to the diverse cultures of Serbia and the Balkans, with free workshops, crafts, singing, dance lessons, and more.

More:
Liszt Festival
 

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent.

Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media.

XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com

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