Marcell Szabó Piano Recital Presented by Liszt Academy

Chopin’s influence on 19th-20th century piano music is immeasurable. He established new genres (ballads, mazurkas) and gave new standards to other genres such as the nocturne and the prelude. Anyone wishing to play in these genres after Chopin have inevitably felt the presence of the spirit of the Polish genius. It is, of course, an inspiring rather than a paralysing influence: the careers of some composers, such as Rachmaninov and Scriabin, might not have got off the ground without Chopin’s inspiration. The programme of Marcell Szabó’s piano recital – from Field to Poulenc, and Liszt to Debussy – offers a splendid overview of the rich world of genres favoured by Chopin, and the concert concludes with a grand set of variations. Rachmaninov’s work is rarely performed, despite being an exceptional opportunity for pianists to showcase their virtuosic gifts in a versatile way. Moreover, according to Max Harrison, the renowned Rachmaninov scholar, this piece could claim a place in the regular repertoire not only for its technical desirability but also for its musical content.