On 10th & 11th January twenty of the world’s most promising young pianists will compete for a place in the finals of Liszt Utrecht (formerly the Liszt Concours). During the semi-finals at TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht, these world-class talents will demonstrate why they were selected by a distinguished jury consisting of Nino Gvetadze, Leslie Howard, Igor Roma, and Muza Rubackyté.
In the semi-finals, eight candidates will be selected to advance to the finals, which will take place in 2026. During the finals, each finalist will perform six different concerts over six days, showcasing their versatility and artistry.
Thirteen Nationalities
The Liszt Utrecht semi-finalists represent no fewer than 13 different nationalities, reflecting the international prestige of the competition. 30% of the participants (six out of twenty) are female, highlighting the growing diversity in the field.
The Von Weber Edition: A Tribute to a Forgotten Composer
While the music of Franz Liszt is at the heart of Liszt Utrecht, every edition also celebrates the work of another composer. This year, the spotlight is on Carl Maria von Weber, a composer and pianist greatly admired by Liszt. The audience can look forward to a program featuring Von Weber’s original solo piano and chamber music compositions, as well as Liszt’s virtuosic transcriptions of Von Weber’s operatic works.
Adding to this rich program is a new composition by Dutch composer Joey Roukens, which will have its premiere during the competition in the finals 2026.
