Experience a Historic 150th Anniversary Gala at Budapest’s Liszt Academy
Join a truly special celebration on November 14, 2025, marking exactly 150 years since the Hungarian Academy of Music opened its doors. This gala concert takes place on the very date when the institution began its first academic year in 1875, making it a once-in-a-lifetime commemorative event for music lovers visiting Budapest.
A Night of Musical Heritage and Innovation
The anniversary gala brings together works spanning nearly two centuries, from the academy’s founder Franz Liszt to contemporary compositions created specifically for this milestone celebration. The Liszt Academy Symphony Orchestra, conducted by rising talent Dárius Teremi, will perform in the prestigious Grand Hall from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM.
Featured Artists and Program Highlights
First Half: Celebrating Founding Masters
The evening opens with Liszt’s beloved symphonic poem “Les Préludes,” one of the founder’s most popular works. This will be followed by a rare performance of Dezső Antalffy-Zsiross’s “Festival Prolog,” a grandiose piece that incorporates popular American melodies. Originally premiered in Cincinnati’s massive 10,000-seat concert hall, this work for organ and orchestra had its Hungarian premiere exactly 100 years ago in December 1925 and hasn’t been performed in concert since.
Second Half: From Classical to Contemporary
After intermission, 17-year-old violin prodigy Teo Gertler takes the stage as soloist in Bartók’s First Violin Concerto, an early work from 1907-1908 that showcases the composer’s developing style. Organist Balázs Szabó joins as a featured performer, bringing additional depth to the evening’s musical palette.
World Premiere Finale
The concert concludes with the world premiere of “Celestial Pathways” by Máté Bella, a composition professor at the academy who created this piece specifically for the 150th anniversary. Using the timeless passacaglia form, the work symbolically represents the academy’s growth from traditional roots to future aspirations, with musical layers that gradually expand like a tree reaching toward the stars.
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Meet the Conductor
Dárius Teremi, who graduated from the Liszt Academy in June 2025 under the guidance of Ádám Medveczky and Gergely Ménesi, leads this historic performance. Despite his youth, Teremi has already worked with several Hungarian symphony orchestras and made his debut at the Hungarian State Opera House in September 2024.
Why This Concert Matters
This gala represents more than just a musical performance – it’s a living celebration of Hungarian musical heritage. The carefully curated program connects the academy’s founding vision with contemporary creativity, featuring works by past and present faculty members alongside exceptional student performers.
A Rare Musical Journey
The inclusion of Antalffy-Zsiross’s “Festival Prolog” makes this concert particularly special for classical music enthusiasts, as this magnificent work hasn’t been heard in concert for nearly a century. Combined with the world premiere of “Celestial Pathways,” audiences will experience both rediscovered treasures and brand-new musical expressions.
Practical Information
The concert takes place on November 14, 2025, from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM in the Grand Hall of the Hungarian Academy of Music. The venue itself is a stunning Art Nouveau masterpiece, providing an appropriately magnificent setting for this historic celebration.
For international visitors, this anniversary gala offers an unparalleled opportunity to witness Hungarian musical culture at its finest, in one of Europe’s most beautiful concert halls, on the exact anniversary of an institution that has shaped classical music for 150 years.
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