The American Liszt Society will hold its 2021 Festival, “Liszt and Hungary,” at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance from October 15 through 18, showcasing the music of Liszt and of numerous other Hungarian composers, and highlighting the music and dance of the Romani people, commonly known as “gypsies.”

For further information and to register for the Festival, please visit smtd.umich.edu/liszt2021

The opening event, on October 15th at 4:00 p.m., will be the world premiere of the film Piano Lessons: the Art and Life of German Diez Nieto, a musical descendant of Liszt and protégé of Claudio Arrau. The formal opening, a performance of George Batyi and the Gypsy Stringz, will take place at 8:00 p.m. that evening. Subsequent events begin at 9:00 each morning and conclude each evening with a concert at 8:00 p.m. Programming runs from 19th through 21st century music, ranging from the complete Hungarian Rhapsodies to the Rhapsody in Blue, Béla Bartók, György Ligeti, and beyond. Programs will also feature the influence of music of the Romani people, not only in Hungary but across Europe.

Festival attendees will be able to attend presentations by leading experts on the varying manifestations of style hongrois (Hungarian style) in Western music, observe Hungarian dance steps, enjoy Hungarian food, take in performances of Hungarian solo piano, chamber, and vocal repertoire, and much more!

Performers and lecturers will include national and international artists and scholars as well as faculty and students from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

For further information and to register for the Festival, please visit smtd.umich.edu/liszt2021