As one critic put it, the Concours Géza Anda “is not looking simply for a virtuoso but something different, something bigger: a profundity paired with instrumental perfection”. Evoking the artistic creed of Géza Anda, participants have to maintain a vast repertoire, with several piano concertos alongside their solo pieces, at the prestigious challenge which has been organized every three years in Switzerland since 1979. For this remarkable occasion, artists that have achieved great results in the competition are present together; it is a rare moment indeed for so many superb pianists to be heard within a single programme. Dénes Várjon took first place in 1991, the Italian Pietro De Maria won the next competition in 1994, while the Russian Alexander Shaikin and Brazilian Ronaldo Rolim achieved second and third places, respectively, in 2015. To match the occasion, we have the chance to hear these hugely gifted artists play a truly remarkable programme together with an excellent orchestra. The two piano concertos are only rarely heard in the concert hall, so it will be a near once-in-a-lifetime chance to enjoy these masterpieces by Mozart and Bach. The fact that Dénes Várjon is performing both a Liszt and a Bartók piano concerto is in itself a remarkable feat. Pairing the compositions of these pianist-composers (one of whom died 130 years ago and one of whom was born 135 years ago) enhances even further the glitter of this major event.

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