In tribute to the 150th anniversary of his birth, the Cziffra Festival pays homage to one of the most significant Russian Romantic composers, Sergey Rachmaninov. János Balázs’ gigantic enterprise is unique in the world, as only a few pianists have ever performed all of Rachmaninov’s piano concertos. His partners in this endeavour will be András Keller and Concerto Budapest. This gigantic undertaking, which has been in the international limelight, can also be considered the Mount Everest of pianists. It can be heard at the Cziffra Festival in two parts: on 10 and 25 February at the Liszt Academy.

Rachmaninov’s piano concertos are simultaneously characterised by exuberant emotionality and brilliant virtuosity, but he was also a master of colourful orchestration. These works are considered to be among the most challenging ones written for the piano since performers have to meet serious technical requirements to achieve the desired standard. At the same time, the audience can fully immerse in the beauty of the music.

The composer completed his Piano Concerto No. 1 at eighteen, while No. 4 was finished in 1926 after leaving the Soviet Union. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini is the fifth and final piece composed for piano and orchestra, which is based on Paganini’s famous 24 Capricies.

Tickets:
HUF 10,000, HUF 8,000, HUF 6,000, HUF 5,000, HUF 4,000, HUF 2,000

Ticket for the concerts on February 10 and 25 (cannot be combined with other discounts):
HUF 14,000, HUF 12,000, HUF 10,000, HUF 8,000, HUF 6,000, HUF 3,000

János Balázs piano
Concerto Budapest,
Conductor: András Keller

Program:
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 1 (F-sharp minor), Op. 1, Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 43.

***
Rachmaninov: (C minor) Piano Concerto, Op. 18

Host:
Szilvia Becze

Sponsors:

Featured Sponsor: MVM Group

For more information please visit the website of the CZIFFRA Festival.