In its pure form, folk music is hard to come by. Like an unstable chemical, it cycles through numerous permutations as it reacts with something in its current environment. However, it is not only folk music itself that is fleeting and transmutative, the scientific fields seeking to analyse and define it are also in a constant state of flux. Science, teaching and, most recently, performance art itself try – in their own ways, using the tools at their disposal – to define the essence of the term folk music, but precisely because of its volatility, writers are forced into making lengthy circumlocutions on the subject. And let’s not forget that eternal scientific paradox that states that the observer always has an effect on the material being observed, so observation itself can never be totally objective.

Besides his teaching activity at the Liszt Academy and his position as the Head of the Strings Department, József Eötvös organises festivals and competitions, devotes himself to the careers of young people and to the furtherance of guitar music. The Liszt Award-winning musician spoke to us in detail about the history of the Guitar Sub-Department, artist management and the Budapest International Guitar Competition.

The Bartók World Competition and Festival from th Finnish and Japanese perspectives.

Although the accordion tends to make only cameo-like appearances in jazz and classical music, both genres feel fully at home on the chosen instrument of Frenchman Richard Galliano.

True to the traditions, the Liszt Academy pays tribute to her founder with a concert featuring the Liszt Academy Symphony Orchestra on 22 October. The orchestra will be conducted by Pinchas Steinberg, former chief conductor of the Hungarian Philharmonic Orchestra.

Composer and performer. At one time this combination was unremarkable, even natural, whereas today Jörg Widmann is one of only few who represent this – sadly relatively rare – hybrid musician: equal talented in both capacities, and of course to a remarkably high standard.

Most recently, this month, the world-renowned violinist Salvatore Accardo came to Hungary as the leader of the Quartetto Accardo, while at the end of summer, he visited Budapest as the head of jury of the Bartók World Competition. He believes that the level-headedness of competitors is not enough in a concert, as during a concert performance, one needs a wide range of emotions.

On 21 October, 2017, the Liszt Ferenc Memorial Museum pays tribute with three piano recitals to the Liszt Academy’s eponymous founder born 206 years ago.

The funeral service of Professor Emeritus János Devich, violoncellist and instructor of the Chamber Music Department will be held on 20 October, at 2pm at Óbuda Cemetery.

After several decades of individual global conquest, life finally brought Maria João and Egberto Gismonti together on the summer of 2016. They gave their debut joint concert in Italy, and this proved to be a remendous success. As a result, they undertake a tour of Europe this autumn, one of the stops – fortunately for us – being the Liszt Academy. Maria João, renowned for her extraordinary voice and unique musicality, had long dreamt of the day that she could take to the stage in the company of the Brazilian composer-inventor-virtuoso instrumentalist. Now her wish is being fulfilled. At this performance we can ourselves witness what new marvels have been created from the meeting of their musical orbits.