The freedom of Music

Performer: Janos Balazs, pianist

Programme:

Chopin: Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9/2

Chopin: Grande valse brillante in E-flat major, op. 18

Wagner-Liszt: Isolde’s Liebestod

Liszt: Spanish rhapsody

Liszt: Hungarian rhapsody, No. 12

Ravel: La valse

Jointly presented by the Liszt Institute Brussels and the Cziffra Festival, this highly anticipated solo recital by internationally acclaimed pianist János Balázs promises a captivating musical journey. Renowned worldwide for his improvisational freedom, breathtaking virtuosity, and deep emotional expression, Balázs has curated a program featuring some of the most definitive and thrilling piano masterpieces of the 19th and 20th centuries, showcasing the infinite colors of his instrument. The first half of the evening shines a spotlight on Chopin. Audiences will be treated to the gently rocking, fairytale-like yet dramatic Nocturne in E-flat major, followed by the infectious Grande Valse Brillante, which beautifully captures the sparkling atmosphere of Parisian salons. The first half concludes with a monument of Romanticism: Liszt’s powerful piano transcription of Wagner’s Isolde’s Liebestod. The second half of the concert turns towards Spanish and Hungarian flair, driven by the obsessive dynamics of the dance. Liszt’s Spanish Rhapsody unfolds as a nocturnal vision seasoned with Andalusian and Arabic rhythms, while his Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 (dedicated to Joseph Joachim) offers a perfect blend of brooding melancholy and the stormy, sweeping energy of the csárdás. Bringing the evening to a spectacular close is Maurice Ravel’s masterpiece, La Valse. This apocalyptic, grotesque, and overwhelming vision of the Viennese waltz serves as a thrilling farewell to the imperial idyll of the 19th century.

Supporters: National Cultural Fund (Hungary), Prime Minister's Office, Bethe Gabor Fund