Also in the livestream
The 11th International FRANZ LISZT Piano Competition Weimar – Bayreuth has begun
A total of 64 pianists from all over the world have applied for the ‘11th International Franz Liszt Competition Weimar – Bayreuth’. After a video pre-selection, the best 28 were invited to Bayreuth for the first round of the competition. The international piano competition, which takes place from 21 October to 1 November 2024, offers the public not only public rounds but also a series of high-profile concerts.
The renowned pianist Martin Helmchen will play the opening concert on Monday, 21 October at 8:00 p.m. in the Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth, with works by Beethoven, Schubert and Gubaidulina. Advance tickets are available at the Bayreuth Theatre Box Office and at the Bayreuther Buchhandlung im Kircheneck.
The Liszt Competition, organised in cooperation with the city of Bayreuth, is considered one of the most important international competitions focusing on the work of Franz Liszt. The University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar and the city of Bayreuth are inviting participants for the eleventh time.
After the first round in the chamber music hall of the Steingraeber-Haus in Bayreuth (22.10. and 23.10., each day from 11 am and 5 pm, as well as 24.10. from 11 am , admission free) the competition continues with the second round (26 and 27 October) and the semi-final (28 and 29 October) in the Festsaal Fürstenhaus at the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar.
From the second round of judging, the exciting action can be experienced also in the livestream at www.hfm-weimar.de and at www.youtube.com/hfmfranzlisztweimar.
The final concert on 31 October 2024 at 7:30 p.m. in the Weimarhalle with the Staatskapelle Weimar is also the final round with orchestra. Tickets are available from the Weimar Tourist Information Office and at the box office.
The competition returns to Bayreuth for the concert of the prizewinners on 1 November at 7:30 p.m. at the ‘Zentrum’. Tickets are available at the Bayreuth Theatre Box Office and at the box office.
In the midst of the competition, there will be a further highlight with the ‘European Liszt Night’ on 24 October at 7:00 p.m. at the Villa Wahnfried in Bayreuth (tickets: Bayreuth box office and box office) and on Friday, 25 October at 7:30 p.m. in the Festsaal Fürstenhaus in Weimar (tickets: Weimar tourist information and box office).
The performers are the first prize winners of the three renowned Liszt competitions: Kevin Yutong Chen (1st prize Franz Liszt International Piano Competition Budapest 2021), Yukine Kuroki (1st prize Liszt Utrecht Competition 2022) and Shota Kaya (1st prize 10th International FRANZ LISZT Competition Weimar – Bayreuth 2021).
The international jury welcomes as its new chairman the Weimar piano professor Michail Lifits, who is also the artistic director of the competition. The jury also includes Michel Dalberto (France), Wolfgang Döberlein (Germany, 1st round), Norma Fisher (Great Britain), Leslie Howard (Great Britain | Australia), Vivian Li (China), Boris Petrushansky (Italy) and Lilya Zilberstein (Austria, from the 2nd round).
The jury awards prizes worth a total of €25,000 to the most talented competitors. The first prize of €12,000 is donated by the LISZT FOUNDATION. There is also a second prize (€8,000) and a third prize (€5,000), as well as special prizes and follow-up concerts.
The required competition repertoire places a clear focus on the piano works of Franz Liszt in the first and second rounds. There will be an innovation in the semi-final in 2024: for the first time, one of four piano quintets by Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms, Antonin Dvořák or César Franck must be selected and performed together with the Karol Szymanowski Quartet. In the finale, the focus is once again on the competition's namesake with his two piano concertos.
The Liszt Competition, which was launched 30 years ago by the Weimar Music Academy, is largely financed by the Free State of Thuringia and the City of Bayreuth. The NEUE LISZT STIFTUNG also provides significant support.
Further information: www.hfm-weimar.de/liszt
[15 October 2024]