Dénes Várjon

Dénes Várjon

Piano

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Hungarofest 2011

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›› PROGRAMME 2011 pdf version

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Intro

Années de pélerinage – Years of Pilgrimage. The title of Franz Liszt’s piano cycle might as well be the motto of the composer’s life and art. It was Liszt’s never ending inner pilgrimage that led him from his young virtuoso years through his mature monumental musical compositions up to the sophisticated still enigmatic world of his elderly period.
In addition to Liszt’s deservedly famous piano pieces, the 2011 Bicentennial Liszt Festival offers a wide selection of the composer’s less known, peculiar chamber music pieces as well as the musical adaptations of poems authored by the most prominent Hungarian poets of the 19th century. Besides paying our tribute to Liszt’s character, we also evoke the most prodigious musician-composers of the era: primarily Paganini and Chopin, whose works had a great impact on Liszt.
The most influential figures of musical history, such as Debussy, Saint-Saëns, Bartók or Busoni, developed their unique voice following the path which was opened by Liszt’s works. Their musical pieces played in our concerts – along with some Liszt compositions – aim to demonstrate this powerful effect.
The festival also offers a unique specialty, the Hungarian premi.re of the Lieux Retrouvés, a masterpiece composed for cello and piano by one of the most renowned contemporary composers, the British Thomas Adés. It is a great honour to me to welcome the world-famous cellist Steven Isserlis as a distinguished musician of our festival, who will play this musical piece for the first time in Europe and America.

Dénes Várjon
Artistic Director
Hungarofest Nonprofit Ltd.



Dear Music Lovers and Liszt Fans!

In 2011 we have tuned on Liszt, as on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of his birth we have been celebrating the best-known and world-wide recognized composer of Hungarian culture and history of music.
The Liszt Memorial Year offers an opportunity of a unique international cooperation – the European music festival and reputed concert halls commemorate Liszt’s oeuvre, but the music fans are welcome to a large number of programs – coordinated and organized by Hungarofest – here in Hungary, too.
As the organizers of the Liszt Year we wish to present the artist’s work in an interesting and unconventional way, worthy of Liszt’s manysided personality. We have undertaken several events where Liszt’s music is taken out to the streets, squares and even the Internet.
The topic of the Chamber Music Festival which has been organized for the third time this year – following the Haydn and Erkel-Mahler Years – is obviously about Liszt. The piano virtuoso and composer’s chamber music pieces of familiar and special atmosphere, as well as the significant composers of his age are evoked by international performers.
Please, join us to the Liszt and Europe Chamber Music Festival - 2011 is the official Liszt Year.
I wish you extraordinary experience.

Monika Balatoni
Creative Director
Hungarofest Nonprofit Ltd.