The Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, one of Hungary’s most prestigious cultural institutions, will host its annual Talent Day on 9 February. Marking the academy’s 150th anniversary, the event offers a unique insight into the institution’s musical education through student performances, open masterclasses, and an evening symphonic concert.
Held since 2018 in the academy’s historic main building on Liszt Ferenc Square, Talent Day invites audiences behind the scenes to experience the daily life of young musicians. According to an announcement by the academy, the event aims to showcase the next generation of musical talent while allowing visitors to explore different aspects of music education.
A highlight of Talent Day is the collaboration with the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, which will perform works by Händel, Albinoni, Vivaldi, Haydn, and Bach, featuring solo performances by the academy’s top students.
Throughout the day, nearly every department of the academy will be represented. A public orchestral rehearsal, led by conductor Gergely Ménesi, will offer a glimpse into the preparations for the evening concert. Additionally, a final-year musicology student will present a lecture on Béla Bartók’s early years.
Other performances will include students from the Church Music, Vocal Studies, and Conducting departments, as well as the wind ensemble The MUZE Five and students from the Electronic Music and Jazz departments. Young pianists from the Special Talents Programme—some of them still children—will also have the chance to showcase their skills.
Several distinguished faculty members will hold open masterclasses, including cellist Ditta Rohmann, pianist Kálmán Dráfi, folk musician Benjámin Eredics, and jazz saxophonist Kristóf Bacsó.
A special feature of the event will be the presentation of the academy’s historic Voit organ. Balázs Szabó, head of the organ department, will introduce the instrument alongside his students in the Grand Hall, offering insights into its reconstruction and unique sound.
Tickets for Talent Day and the evening concert are available separately through the Liszt Academy’s website and box office, offering music lovers a chance to immerse themselves in the vibrant world of Hungary’s most renowned music institution.
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