Classical:NEXT 2026 opens in one of Europe’s most magnificent concert halls: the historic Liszt Academy in Budapest. The opening concert brings together Hungary’s rich musical heritage and its vibrant contemporary voice in a program that spans works by Franz Liszt to Péter Eötvös.
This special evening traces a powerful artistic arc through Hungarian music history. From Liszt’s visionary Romanticism to Bartók’s deeply rooted folk inspirations, from the concentrated brilliance of György Kurtág to the bold, theatrical sound worlds of Péter Eötvös, the program reflects both tradition and innovation at the highest level.
The concert features an outstanding lineup of artists, who are known on Hungarian and international podiums equally, including pianist Gábor Farkas, violinists Barnabás Kelemen and Katalin Kokas, cimbalom virtuoso Miklós Lukács, cellist Ditta Rohmann, trumpeter Kornél Fekete-Kovács and the Modern Art Orchestra.
Together, they will create an opening night that celebrates artistic excellence, cultural identity, and the spirit of Classical:NEXT’s 2026 host city.
Franz Liszt: Selected Works
Gábor Farkas – piano
Béla Bartók: 44 Duos for Two Violins, BB 104
Barnabás Kelemen, Katalin Kokas – violin
Béla Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances, BB 68
Barnabás Kelemen – violin, Miklós Lukács – cimbalom
György Kurtág: Splinters
Miklós Lukács – cimbalom
Péter Eötvös: Two Poems to Polly
Ditta Rohmann – cello
Péter Eötvös: Paris–Dakar
Kornél Fekete-Kovács – trumpet
Modern Art Orchestra
