Balázs Réti Piano Recital

The internationally acclaimed pianist and a Vice-President for General Affairs of the Liszt Academy, Balázs Réti presents a specific slice of the world of late Romanticism in his matinée concert. The carefully selected pieces that you don’t hear every day are united by their bold harmonic language and forward-looking musical ideas. The first half of the recital is devoted to a selection of Ferenc Liszt’s late piano works. By this stage of his life, Liszt had largely abandoned outward virtuosity in favour of a more intimate, restrained, and spiritual musical language, and a darker, more contemplative atmosphere. The works performed in this concert reflect two themes that remained especially close to the composer throughout his life: his deep religious faith and his enduring connection to Hungary. The second half of the concert features real specialty: scenes from Puccini’s Turandot – on the piano. The powerful opening chorus of the people, the ministers’ exotically coloured trio, Turandot’s first great aria, and the world-famous Nessun dorma bring the opera’s vivid and captivating world to life.