Read the story of Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra

The Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra has been a distinguished presence at the forefront of the international classical music scene for more than six decades. Founded in 1963 by graduating students of the Liszt Academy, the ensemble flourished under the leadership of its concertmaster and artistic director, János Rolla, achieving remarkable success at home while performing in the world’s most prestigious concert halls.

Successes of recent years

Since 2016, the orchestra has continued to build on this rich legacy under the guidance of concertmaster Péter Tfirst, upholding the highest artistic standards and preserving its uniquely recognisable characteristics. In 2020, the internationally acclaimed cellist István Várdai joined the ensemble’s professional leadership, contributing to both its artistic development and the conception of its overall programming. Alongside maintaining the orchestra’s esteemed traditions, the artistic management is committed to ongoing renewal and innovation. The ensemble’s expansive repertoire spans Baroque masterpieces to contemporary works, embracing virtually every musical genre.

Artistic leadership

Over the decades, the orchestra has collaborated with an array of legendary soloists, including Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich, Isaac Stern, Yehudi Menuhin, Jean-Pierre Rampal and Maurice André. In more recent years, internationally renowned artists such as Martha Argerich, Emmanuel Pahud, Vadim Gluzman, Denis Matsuev, Mischa Maisky, Maxim Vengerov, Ilya Gringolts, David Fray, Pablo Barragán, Martin Fröst, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, and the remarkable Signum Saxophone Quartet have also performed with the ensemble. In the upcoming seasons, audiences can look forward to concerts featuring equally exceptional musicians, including Elisabeth Leonskaja, Kirill Troussov, Kirill Gerstein, Dénes Várjon and Víkingur Ólafsson.

The Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra is a regular guest at many of the world’s leading music festivals. In recent years, the ensemble has appeared at Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Stradivari Festival in Cremona, and the festivals of Neumarkt, Kronberg and Heidelberg, as well as at the Varna Summer, the Istanbul International Music Festival, the Izmir Festival, the Ankara International Music Festival and the George Enescu International Festival. As part of the European Capital of Culture programme, the orchestra also performed in Bodø. They tour regularly in Transylvania, Spain and South America.

As a national ensemble, the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra proudly represents Hungary and promotes Hungarian cultural heritage around the world.