Franz Liszt Lives On: Budapest Festival Fuses Icons, Innovation, and Immersion

Contemporary dancer Yevhen Havrylenko at last year’s Liszt Festival

The fifth Liszt Fest International Cultural Festival is set to bring together top names from classical and contemporary music, while also embracing innovative co-productions and a broad spectrum of artistic genres. The event, organized by Palace of Arts (Müpa) Budapest, will run from October 9 to 22.

In addition to classical performances, the festival will include programs in literature, visual arts, popular music, and movement arts, reflecting a commitment to genre diversity and interdisciplinary exploration.

Speaking at the press event, Csaba Káel, CEO of Müpa Budapest, emphasized the importance of hosting a major festival honoring Franz Liszt, describing the Hungarian composer as a “genius” and “a brand in his own time,” comparable in fame to Frédéric Chopin. Liszt not only transformed 19th-century music but also supported emerging talents such as Wagner and Saint-Saëns.

Our aim is to bring Franz Liszt into the 21st century,” said Káel. “He still has a lot to tell us through his art and his thinking.”

The Hungarian National Men’s Choir will perform a full evening of Liszt’s lesser-known choral works—composed between 1838 and 1847—at the House of Music Hungary on October 11.

On October 18, pianist János Palojtay and the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne, led by Colombian conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada, will perform works by Liszt and Johannes Brahms at Müpa. Natalie Tenenbaum, the multifaceted composer, pianist, and singer-songwriter, will present her own compositions along with reinterpretations of works by Bach, Stravinsky, Debussy, and Liszt at MOMKult on October 20.

The Israeli Chamber Project, comprised of world-class soloists, will perform chamber music by Debussy, Stravinsky, Bartók, and Ravel—as well as a Liszt piece arranged by Saint-Saëns—at the Budapest Music Center (BMC) on October 21.

Austrian composer and percussionist Lukas Ligeti will take the stage at BMC on October 14 with a showcase of his genre-blending works, inspired by African rhythms, electronic music, and contemporary chamber music. Performers include Julie Vercauteren, Caitlin Jones, Ensemble Hopper, and the Mivos Quartet.

The Danubia Orchestra and Argentinian conductor Mariano Chiacchiarini will present music by Gershwin, Piazzolla, and Ginastera on October 16. The concert at Müpa will also feature the Hungarian premiere of Soma, a jazz- and electronics-infused orchestral work by Igor C. Silva. On October 13, the UMZE Chamber Ensemble will explore the intersection of Erik Satie and film music, including a reconstruction of one of Satie’s original film scores and new compositions inspired by avant-garde cinema.

The Ludwig Museum’s exhibition Golden Repair – Subtle Connections explores the theme of healing and fracture through the lens of kintsugi, the traditional Japanese art of repairing broken pottery. Meanwhile, the Hungarian National Gallery honors painter Adolf Fényes with a special retrospective.

Art Market Budapest, Central and Eastern Europe’s leading contemporary art fair, will also be part of the festival, hosted this year at the MTK Sport Park.

Among this year’s standout events is a monumental immersive theater production by the world-renowned Recirquel Company. Titled Walk My World, the show takes audiences into a 6,000-square-meter, mythic cinematic universe using the language of contemporary dance and new circus. A special pre-premiere will be staged for Budapest audiences.

Contemporary pop-rock band Galaxies (Galaxisok) will perform at Müpa on October 14, marking 12 years since their founding. Lili Kemény, winner of the Margó Literary Prize, will discuss her 2024 book No (Nem) in conversation with László Valuska, director of the Margó Literary Festival, on October 13 at Müpa. The event will also feature a musical appearance by Benedek Szabó, frontman of Galaxisok.

Franz Liszt Photo: Wilhelm von Kaulbach, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Autumn Margó Literary Festival will again showcase newly released works and notable authors from both Hungary and abroad, with venues including Millenáris Park and the National Dance Theater, offering concerts alongside book launches and discussions.

The PONT Festival, held in the Museum Garden, will provide a day-long, free program for families on the cultures of Serbia and the Balkan region, including animated workshops, singing and crafts sessions, and traditional dance lessons.

For further information visit the official website of the event.

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