26 September 2025, 19.00-21.00

Solti Hall

Chamber Music, So Close

Impressions from the Carpathian Basin Presented by Liszt Academy

László Borbély, Éva Polgár, Gábor Varga

Ligeti: Musica ricercata » 1. Sostenuto – Misurato – Prestissimo
Improvisation
Ligeti: Musica ricercata » 5. Rubato. Lamentoso
Liszt: Consolations nd version) » 3. Consolation in D-flat major
Bartók: Ten Easy Pieces, BB 51 » 5. Evening in Transylvania
Improvisation on the song Kis kece lányom
Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 19
Ligeti: Three Wedding Dances » 2. Quickly Come Here Pretty, 3. Circling Dance
Bartók: Romanian Christmas Songs, BB 67 » Serie I: No. 1, 2, 3, 7, 8; Serie II: No. 3
György Kurtág: Games III » 25. Hommage à Ferenc Farkas (2) Scraps of a colinda melody – faintly recollected
Improvisation
Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6
INTERMISSION
Bartók: Allegro barbaro, BB 63
Kodály: Seven Piano Pieces, Op. 11 ». Székely keserves (Székely Lament)
Improvisation
Kodály: Seven Piano Pieces, Op. 11 ». Székely nóta (Székely Tune)
Bartók: Mikrokosmos, BB 105 » Volume VI: 7. Ostinato
Bartók: Mikrokosmos, BB 105 » Volume VI: Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm No. 1
Ligeti: Etudes ». Fanfares
Improvisation
Bartók: Three Burlesques, BB 55 [Op. 8c] ». Quarrel
Bartók: Fourteen Bagatelles, BB 50 [Op. 6] » 4. Grave (Mikor gulyásbojtár voltam)
Improvisation on the song Erdő mellett estvéledtem
Ligeti: Hungarian Rock
Kodály: János Háry – Suite, Op. 15a » 5. Intermezzo (arranged by Földes Andor)

Éva Polgár, László Borbély, Gábor Varga (piano)

Carpathian Impressions is the result of a collaboration between three exceptional pianists: Éva Polgár, László Borbély, and Gábor Varga. Each member of this unique ensemble is an acclaimed solo artist with numerous international awards to their name. The trio made its debut at Carnegie Hall in New York in 2022, where their performance was met with great enthusiasm by both the public and the critics. Their mission is to convey the Carpathian Basin’s rich, thousand-year-old musical heritage in a modern and dynamic way. Their repertoire merges the depth of classical piano music with the vibrant world of folk-inspired improvisation. Performed by Éva Polgár and László Borbély, the program features keyboard works by the most significant Hungarian composers of the past two centuries – Liszt, Kodály, Bartók, Ligeti, and Kurtág – many of which reflect the influence of Hungarian folk music. These short musical blocks are linked by Gábor Varga’s fresh and innovative improvisations, which evoke the musical traditions of the peoples of the Carpathian Basin.