2st VILNIUS PIANO MUSIC FESTIVAL

This year we celebrate the bicentenary of one of the most prominent cultural figures of the 19th century – Franz Liszt. He was a true European, born in the Hungarian part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1811, the year when the great comet appeared in the sky. His soaring flight across the vault of the musical world has left us an incredibly bright mark, whose light inspires us today and continues to do so into posterity. The celebration of this anniversary, however, should not resemble a crowning ceremony; quite the contrary: it is an opportunity to know his versatile musical genius better!

“Do you love Liszt?” Françoise Sagan would have asked. “Which one?” we could have responded. “A virtuoso? A Hungarian? A Gypsy? Or maybe a Franciscan?..” The list of Liszt’s talents, facets of his personality, the virtues of generosity, charity and humanity would be endless.

The same is true about the hero of Lithuanian national music – Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis – the centenary of whose death will be also honoured by the participants of the 2nd Vilnius Piano Music Festival.

I owe my sincere gratitude to the sponsors for their generous support, without which it would have been impossible to present such a magnificent roster of world‘s leading musicians at this year‘s festival.

Artistic director of the festival

MŪZA RUBACKYTĖ

Nine concerts in Vilnius from 9 to 26 November 2011 will attract the audiences to the National Philharmonic Hall by featuring both the illustrious roster of world famous piano virtuosi including Nelson GOERNER (Argentina) and Yves HENRY (France), making their first appearances in Lithuania, Mūza RUBACKYTĖ (Lithuania/France), Francesco NICOLOSI (Italy), Rūta and Zbignevas IBELHAUPTAS (Lithuania), and budding talents: the 2nd prize winner of the Chopin competition, Lukas GENIUŠAS, and first prize-winners of three international Liszt competitions 2011 – Alexander ULLMAN, Masataka GOTO and Gábor FARKAS. The latter three will join in the fantastic Liszt Gala.

The youngest participants from Lithuania, Russia and Azerbaijan, will perform at a concert held under the aegis of the Mstislav Rostropovich Foundation.

Organiser:

Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall

Artistic director of the festival:

Prizewinner of F. Liszt Budapest Piano Competition and recipients of Lithuanian National Arts and Culture Prize  MŪZA RUBACKYTĖ

Venue:

Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall (Aušros Vartų g. 5)