Olga Kern and the Danubia Orchestra

Over the past hundred years, generations of renowned Bach experts, Mozart performers, Liszt virtuosos, and advocates of modern music have followed one another. Whenever they presented their interpretations of a particular composer's works, they consistently

attracted the attention of audiences and critics. Their performance styles often shaped public taste and influenced their contemporaries.

Olga Kern's deep passion was Rachmaninov, and he, in turn, considers her one of the most genuine and in-demand performers today. Tonight, she presents his music to the Liszt Academy audience. Growing up in a family of pianists, the Russian-American artist remembers hearing Rachmaninov’s music even before she was born, as her mother played his piano concertos during her pregnancy. When she began studying them as a teenager, she was more moved by the sense that this music had been part of her since childhood than by their technical difficulty. For this performance, she has selected Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3, his final concerto, and a profound musical statement.

Who was Rachmaninov? A composer positioned at the intersection of the late Romantic period and the 20th century, he possessed Liszt-like virtuosity, Russian emotional richness, and a generous heart. Despite harsh criticism from modernists of his era, he consistently produced music that was lyrical, passionate, melodic, and profoundly moving—even when viewed as outdated. Over a century later, he remains one of the world’s most cherished composers and continues to inspire artists today, demonstrating that posterity has honored his artistic dedication.

Alongside Olga Kern’s performance, the Danubia Orchestra will present two additional Rachmaninov pieces: the famous orchestral Vocalise, featuring a gentle, continuous melody that seems to sing through the orchestra, and Symphony No. 2, composed after a profound creative crisis, emerging as a triumphant symbol of renewal. It still conveys a universal message: there is always a path to return from the depths.

Budapest offers many attractions every evening, but this is one event you truly shouldn't miss.

Guests are welcome to a Prologue Talk at 6:30 PM in the Grand Hall of the Liszt Academy before the concert.

During intermission, subscription holders can enjoy a free glass of sparkling wine, courtesy of Bock Winery.