Szolnok Symphony Orchestra

The Franz Liszt International Piano Competition will be held from September 15–20, 2026, at the Kodály Center in Pécs, a former European Capital of Culture and one of Hungary's leading cultural centers.

The young pianists were first ranked by the distinguished jury based on the videos submitted with their applications. The best candidates then advanced to a three-round live competition in Pécs, where they demonstrated their musical artistry in person. The orchestral final brings together only the four finest competitors, among whom the winner will be decided. The jury selects the Liszt work to be performed from three designated concertante works: Totentanz, the Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, and the Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major.

These three works for piano and orchestra are outstanding examples of Romantic virtuoso pianism. In each, the soloist faces formidable technical challenges: dazzling passagework, powerful chordal writing, octave runs, wide leaps, and extreme dynamic contrasts. At the same time, the pianist must project over the full orchestral sound, requiring exceptional stamina and flawless technical command. Yet virtuosity alone is not enough. The performer must work in complete harmony with the orchestra, bringing equal sensitivity to the music's dramatic intensity and lyrical beauty.

There is perhaps no sporting contest in which the decisive final demands that competitors be as vulnerable, emotionally open, gentle, and attuned to every subtle nuance as the finalists of a music competition. They must communicate with dozens of people they have never met before through the slightest glance, breathe as one with the orchestra, and create a shared musical experience. It is not only the instrument that must become an ally, but the orchestra as well.

Join us for this evening of extraordinary artistry and youthful brilliance, and witness the winner of these almost superhuman musical achievements.