On October 1, World Music Day, we return once again to the Grand Hall of the Liszt Academy – the place we have long called our home. It is here that countless unforgettable concert experiences have been born, where we combine the traditions of classical music with our ever-renewing artistic vision. In the new season, fresh energies will meet our consistently high standards, as we once again bring the finest works of the classical repertoire to life.

This season is particularly special for us: building on the experiences of recent years, we return to the classical line. Our 2025/26 concert season will therefore be a truly classical one – fresh, inspiring, and performed in the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra’s distinctive, high-quality style.

Our season-opening concert will feature István Várdai as both soloist and conductor. We begin the evening with Ferenc Farkas’s Piccola musica di concerto, paying tribute to the composer on the 120th anniversary of his birth. In Farkas’s music, stylistic elements of different eras meet, and in our precise and sensitive interpretation, they address the audience in a timeless and unique way.

Next, we perform Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, in which István Várdai’s virtuosity and lyrical power shine. Its dramatic force, beauty, technical challenges, and subtle nuances promise an unforgettable experience for our listeners.

We close the concert with Mozart’s “Great” G minor Symphony, a timeless masterpiece of Viennese Classicism. Mozart’s melodies will sound fresh and radiant in our performance, filled with new energy – once again underlining our commitment to keeping the classical repertoire alive and relevant today.

In our 2025/26 season, we invite our audience to join us for a five-concert subscription series, in which we share the stage with six world-class soloists: Elisabeth Leonskaja, Cosima Soulez-Larivière, Kirill Troussov, Dénes Várjon, Ilya Gringolts, and Kirill Gerstein. Together, they will make the concert experience both memorable and internationally acclaimed. With our carefully curated programs, we aim to present the most precious treasures of classical music at the highest quality – as praised by both critics and our audiences.

Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Liszt Academy, Grand Hall
Featuring and conducted by: István Várdai (cello)

Program:

  • Ferenc Farkas: Piccola musica di concerto

  • Dmitri Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 107

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550

Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra (photo: Adam Fedelin)