Hungarian Inspiration. Lorenzo Mazzola and Ádám Szokolay

Performers:
LORENZO MAZZOLA (piano, Italy) – the winner of Franz Liszt Piano Competition 2019 in Parma
ÁDÁM SZOKOLAY (piano, Hungary) – the winner of Béla Bartók Piano Competition 2019 in Budapest

Programme:
1st half - LORENZO MAZZOLA
FRANZ LISZT – La lugubre gondola II, S. 200-2; Nuages gris, S. 199; Sonata in B minor, S. 178

2nd half – ÁDÁM SZOKOLAY
BÉLA BARTÓK – Three Hungarian Folksongs from Csík, Sz. 35a; Sonata, Sz. 80
FRANZ LISZT – Ave Maria – Die Glocken von Rom (The Bells of Rome), S. 182: Aux cyprès de la Villa d’Este from the cycle Années de pèlerinage: III (The Years of Pilgrimage: III), S. 163
ERNST VON DOHNÁNYI – second movement Presto, ma non tanto from the suite Ruralia Hungarica, Op. 32a
BÉLA BARTÓK – Five piece cycle Szabadban (Out of Doors), Sz. 81

The festival carries on with the tradition of presenting the hottest news of the piano world in Vilnius – the winners of recent international piano competitions. Tonight, the audience will be treated to two recitals by the prize winners of the competitions in 2019: Lorenzo Mazzola from Italy and Ádám Szokolay from Hungary.

Already at the age of twelve, Italian pianist Lorenzo Mazzola began to win laurels in national and international competitions and was awarded scholarships. In 2017, he became the absolute first prize winner at the 7th Andrea Baldi International Piano Competition in Bologna. In October 2019, Lorenzo won the third prize at the F. Liszt Piano Competition in Parma. He also was awarded a special prize in this competition for his interpretation of the Hungarian composer’s Sonata in B minor, which the pianist performs at this year’s Vilnius Piano Festival. And as one more prize, the pianist was presented with the jury member prof. Mūza Rubackytė’s invitation to hold a solo recital at the Vilnius Piano Festival.

After intermission, the audience will enjoy the recital by young Hungarian performer Ádám Szokolay. He was admitted to the Liszt Academy’s School for Exceptional Young Talents at the age of eight, later studied at Bard College in New York and is currently a student at the University of Music Franz Liszt in Weimar. By the way, while in Weimar Szokolay attended Prof. M. Rubackytė’s master classes. At the age of 23, Ádám Szokolay won the Bartók International Piano Competition 2019 in Budapest, garnered first prize and several awards – the invitations of the Bartók Museum and B. Bartók Radio to perform with the Györ Philharmonic Orchestra and Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra. The pianist was also presented with the jury member prof. Mūza Rubackytė’s invitation to hold a solo recital at the Vilnius Piano Festival.