Liszt Festival Raiding - Liszt´s Birthday Celebration

Hungarian passion marks the birthday of Franz Liszt

On 22 October, the composer’s birthday, the Liszt Festival Raiding dedicates an evening exclusively to works by this great European master. The connection to Hungary — with 2026 commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Hungarian Uprising of 1956 — runs like a unifying thread throughout the program. Audiences will hear the famous Rákóczi March, long revered as Hungary’s unofficial national hymn, as well as the Hungarian Rhapsodies Nos. 4 and 6, brimming with temperament, virtuosity, and distinctive Hungarian colours.

At the centre of the evening stands Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2, a key work of the Romantic era. Its innovative single-movement form, lyrical character, and chamber-like interplay between piano and orchestra lend the piece remarkable unity and expressive power. The soloist is the award-winning pianist Kateryna Titova, who captivated audiences last season with Liszt’s First Piano Concerto. The Wiener KammerOrchester, under the direction of Martin Sieghart, once again appears as a trusted musical partner in dialogue.