News of 2021
Review the Géza Anda Centenary Night at Kunsthaus Zürich
During the night of 18th/19th November 2021 the 100th birthday of Géza Anda was celebrated with a seven-hour piano marathon at Kunsthaus Zurich. Nine Concours Géza Anda laureates from 1979 to 2021 played a programme of their own choice which befitted the occasion. A highlight was Georges Pludermacher’s performance after midnight of Beethoven’s Diabelli-Variations, which he had originally studied with Géza Anda himself.
A huge thank-you to everyone for making this marvellous evening happen!
Recording of the Géza-Anda centenary anniversary gala-concert in Budapest
As a highlight of the celebrations for Géza Anda’s 100th birthday, a Mozart gala with four concerts took place on November 20th at “Liszt Academy” in Budapest.
At the place where “Anda” learned to play the piano, two First prize winners from the “Concours Géza-Anda”, Anton Gerzenberg (2021) and Dénes Várjon (1991), were performing impressive Interpretations of Mozart. Dénes Várjon, who organised the evening, played the Mozart concert for two Pianos together with Izabella Simon. Jonathan Biss (Piano) and Alina Ibragimova (Violin) were the other soloists of this great Mozart-Evening. The “Concerto Budapest” was under the baton of Maestro András Keller.
18 november 2021: Géza Anda centenary piano night
Piano Marathon with Géza Anda Winners from 1979 to 2021
in the Bührle-Rooms of the Chipperfield-Extension of Kunsthaus Zürich
The highlight of this evening will be Georges Pludermacher’s performance of Beethoven’s Diabelli-Variations at midnight. The renowned French pianist, winner of the first ever Concours Géza Anda, studied with work with Géza Anda himself.
The Bührle Collection will be open throughout, admission to the Géza Anda Piano Night is free.
With: Georges Pludermacher, Heidrun Holtmann, Konstanze Eickhorst, Filippo Gamba, Sergey Koudriakov, Jinsang Lee, Julian Trevelyan, Giorgi Gigashvili
Claire Huangci plays “pictures at an exibition” on the cenntennial piano night
We are happy to announce that Claire Huangci, the winner of the Concours Géza Anda 2018, can also take part in our grand piano marathon at the Kunsthaus.
She will play the famous piano cycle by Modest Mussorgsky, surrounded by masterpieces from the history of art. This means that a total of 9 award winners will appear at this unique event.
8th OCTOBER: DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON GÉZA ANDA CENTENARY BOX
Géza Anda was one of Deutsche Grammophon’s rare exclusive artists at the time and made countless recordings for the legendary yellow label. On the eve of his centenary, Deutsche Grammophon publishes a box with 17 CDs containing many of his famous studio recordings. It includes the first ever complete Mozart concertos with Camerata Salzburg lead by the soloist himself, a cycle which is still considered a reference recording.
Apart from Géza Anda’s core repertoire with orchestra, the box contains his interpretations of Grieg’s Piano Concerto, Franck’s Symphonic Variations, Bartók’s Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, and the wonderful Beethoven Triple Concerto with Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Pierre Fournier, Géza Anda and conductor Ferenc Fricsay.
The solo recordings are completed by a CD containing music by Bach-Busoni, Scarlatti, Liszt-Busoni, Chopin, Schumann and Brahms. These works were retrieved from shellac records and in part published on CD for the first time.
Grace of touch and ease of virtuosity (the New York Times)
We are extremely sad about the news of Nelson Freire’s passing. Nelson Freire spent much time preparing the 15th Géza Anda Piano Competition with us. Moreover, he agreed to chair the jury and was hoping to do so until very shortly before the competition began on 26th May. Many of our competitors admired him deeply. For us, Nelson Freire was not only a wonderful musician but also a great friend.
Characterised by David Allen in the New York Times on 4th November 2021 as «a reclusive pianist whose fabled technique and sensitive, subtle musicianship made him a legend among pianophiles», Nelson Freire was a wonderful artist «who won the admiration, if not adoration of many classical music listeners for the understated sensitivity that he brought to the works of composers from Bach to Rachmaninoff, and especially Chopin.» (Emily Langer in the Washington Post, 4th November 2021).
Nelson Freire will forever remain alive in our hearts.
Giorgi Gigashvili wins Kissinger Klavierolymp
On 5th June, the Géza Anda-Foundation bestowed the Hortense Anda-Bührle Scholarship for One of the Youngest Participants of the Concours Géza Anda upon 20-year-old Giorgi Gigashvili from Georgia. Based on this achievement Giorgi was invited to participate at the prestigious Kissinger KlavierOlymp in Germany last week.
Six excellent competitors took part in this friendly contest, each playing a full recital as well as a contribution of about 20 minutes to the final. Giorgi chose to play a colourful morning recital moving through music history from Scarlatti to Ustvolskaya, and repeating Chopin’s Fourth Ballad and Liszt’s Mazeppa-Etude during the final. For his performance he was awared the First Prize and the Audience Prize of the 19th Kissinger KlavierOlymp.
The final concert with all six participants can be heard on radio Bayern Klassik on Sat 16th October, 15:05h.
2nd october: Julian Trevelyan opens the Piano-Extravaganza Festival in Sofia
The opening of the famous festival Piano-Extravaganza at the Sofia Philharmonic is devoted to Géza Anda’s 100th birthday this year.
Apart from Julian Trevelyan, Krasimira Stoyanova, Valentina Lisitsa, Alexander Malofeev and Szymon Nehring adorn the festival’s roster.
Claire Huangci's new Bach-CD
During lockdown Claire Huangci spent her time creatively and recorded several CDs, supported by German radio SWR, amongst others. Most recently, her CD with Bach toccatas appeared on the market.s roster.
Multidisciplinary event in Budapest to announce Géza Anda 100th birthday
Various events foreshadow the 100th birthday of Géza Anda… On 24 September, for instance, an event combining different art forms takes place at the French Institute in Budapest:
18:30: public screening within the framework of the renowned documentary festival „Budapesti Klasszikus Film Maratonon“ of Richard Leacock and Rolf Liebermann’s historic film (1965) about Géza Anda
19:30: Dénes Varjón, winner of the Concours Géza Anda 1991, plays Beethoven‘s Sonata quasi una fantasia in E-flat, Op. 27/1.
Display of a series of posters created by Aimery Chaigne for the Géza Anda centenary in the lobby of the French Institute.
Sergey Tanin‘s first CD published by Prospero Classical
„Sergey Tanin Plays Brahms, Schubert-Liszt, Prokofiev“ is the young Russian pianist’s new CD published by successful new Swiss label Prospero Classical. `
Today, Sergey Tanin feels close to the great feelings in Brahms‘ First Sonata as much as to the obstreperousness of Prokofiev’s early Ten Piano Pieces. After all, both composers had written these works at about the same age as Sergey’s, in their twenties. On the other hand, Sergey has been devoting himself to Schubert songs transcribed by Liszt for some time now. In these pieces, the pianist is required to delve further and further into new worlds of colour and technical sophistication.
Sergey Tanin plays five encores in Cervo
Watch Sergey Tanin’s recent exceptionally successful recital on the atmospheric piazza in Cervo, Italy here:
For the first time in the history of this festival the audience applauded the young soloist into granting five encores.
Sergey’s first CD, by the way, is scheduled for publication by Prospero Classical in a few weeks.
Details to follow soon.
Claire Huangci replaces Mari João Pires at the Klavierfestival Ruhr tomorrow!
Tuesday, 6 July 2021, 20:00, Historische Stadthalle, Wuppertal
She will perform works Bach/Busoni, Beethoven and Schubert.
ADDITIONAL AWARDS OF THE 15. CONCOURS GÉZA ANDA
Upon conclusion of the 15th Concours Géza Anda some friendly partner organisations announced that they would bestow special awards in honour of this year’s competition upon several semifinalists and finalists of the contest:
– the Prêmio Nelson Freire for a play-conduct concerto with the brazilian youth orchestra Neojiba announced by Ricardo Castro upon Richard Octaviano Kogima.
– the Jury Special Prize of the Moscow Philharmonic for a solo recital in the chamber hall of the Philharmonic upon Vasilii Zabolotnii
– the Special Prize of Müpa Budapest (Palace of Arts) – an invitation for a concerto with orchestra in the 2022/2023 season upon Anton Gerzenberg
Those who won the 15th Concours Géza Anda
Following an exciting final round at Tonhalle Maag on 5th June 2021 the Jury, chaired by Gerhard Oppitz, awarded the following prizes of the 15th Concours Géza Anda:
1st Prize: Anton Gerzenberg (1996, Germany)
2nd Prize: Julian Trevelyan (1998, UK)
3rd Prize: Marek Kozák (1993, Czech Republic).
The Liszt-Bartók Prize was awarded to Mihály Berecz (1997, Hungary), the Mozart-Prize and the Audience Prize to Julian Trevelyan (1998, UK), the Hortense Anda-Bührle Fellowship to Giorgi Gigashvili (2000, Georgia).
The triennial Concours Géza Anda is considered one of the most prestigious and demanding piano competitions. It was created in memory of the famous Hungarian-Swiss pianist Géza Anda by his widow Hortense Anda-Bührle. 2021 marks the centenary of Géza Anda’s birth and the 15th Concours Géza Anda.
36 candidates from all over the world competed in four rounds – the Audition, the Recital, Mozart-Semifinal and Final – at MKZ Musikkonservatorium Zürich, Stadthaus Winterthur and Tonhalle Maag, Zürich between 27th May and 5th June 2021.
Message from Corinne Mauch
Our cultural life was hit severely by the current pandemic. When the last Concours Géza Anda was carried out in 2018 noone could have imagined that the present 15th edition of this renowned competition would encounter challenges of such a dimension.
For many young pianists on the brink of a solo career it is particularly decisive whether and how they are given an opportunity to present themselves in an international setting. They are very much dependent on functioning music institutions and a world market which offers them the necessary platforms for their appearances.
I am delighted that the Géza Anda-Foundation and the Concours team decided to carry out this piano competition in Zurich in 2021 notwithstanding, or rather because of the demanding situation which has arisen due to the Corona pandemic. Whether audiences will follow the concerts live or by means of an internet streaming, one thing is clear: thanks to a great and flexible commitment a chance is given to 42 young pianists to take another step forward in their profession and to become known to the general public.
I thank all involved for organizing this special Concours and wish the partipants valuble new experiences.
Corine Mauch
Mayor of the City of Zurich
(translation from the German original: Markus Wyler, M.A.)
Message from Silvia Steiner
The Concours Géza Anda has always been considered one of the world’s most demanding piano competitions. However, the current pandemic requires far stronger efforts from participants and organizers than ever before. My esteem for this achievement could therefore not be higher. I would aready like to wish all talented young participants good luck and fulfilment in this musical challenge.
Silvia Steiner
President of the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education
Member of the Government Council of the Canton of Zurich and Head of the Department of Education