Liszt Academy Series 5/4
Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra
Artistis director and soloist: István Várdai
Concertmaster: Péter Tfirst
Soloists: Kirill Troussov (violin), Dénes Várjon (piano)
Mendelssohn: Concerto in D minor for violin, piano and strings
Interval
Mozart: Sinfonia concertante in E-flat major for violin, cello and orchestra, K. 364
Each year, the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra places special emphasis on its March performance at the Liszt Academy—a “birthday concert” commemorating the ensemble’s very first public appearance at the same venue in March 1963. These celebratory concerts always offer something unique.
This year’s guest is violinist Kirill Troussov, a favorite not only in the great concert halls of the world but also among Budapest audiences. He is joined by two distinguished Hungarian musicians: cellist István Várdai, the orchestra’s artistic director, and pianist Dénes Várjon, both of whom regularly perform to full houses.
The first half of the program features Mendelssohn’s youthful Double Concerto—a dazzling display of genius, exuberance, and virtuosity. Yet through the refined artistry and seasoned insight of Troussov and Várjon, this masterpiece is transformed into an extraordinary musical experience.
While the outstanding soloists and beloved works might draw attention at first glance, the true rarity lies in the second half of the concert: Mozart’s Sinfonia concertante is performed in an unusual arrangement where, instead of the traditional violin–viola pairing, the violin shares the spotlight with the cello. This distinctive reinterpretation, brought to life by Troussov, Várdai, and the expanded symphonic forces of the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, promises a rare and memorable moment in music history.
