Night of the Organs

23 May 2026, 07.30 p.m.
Liszt Academy - Grand Hall
1061 Budapest, Liszt Ferenc tér 8.

A feast of the finest organ music – this year, “Night of the Organs” brings the Filharmónia Magyarország Unikum concert series to a close with a true musical banquet. On this occasion, the organ of the Liszt Academy of Music showcases the instrument’s symphonic power and versatility through three organ concertos, each with its own distinct character and atmosphere.

Frigyes Hidas, by his own admission, was the last Hungarian Romantic composer, whose creative thinking was never disrupted by anything other than the dominance of rhythm, harmony, and melody—his organ concerto opens the evening. The work itself took an adventurous journey before Xavér Varnus finally introduced it to the general public. The evening’s other Hungarian composer is Rezső Ott, whose youthful, humorous, and down-to-earth style is becoming increasingly well-known. His organ concerto is a true novelty, so the concert is not only recomended to lovers of Romantic melodies but also to those who appreciate humor and surprises.

The third piece on the program is Joseph Jongen’s monumental organ concerto Symphonie fantastique, one of the most ambitious, symphonic-scale works in the organ repertoire. This work, with its dramatic arc, brilliant timbres, and virtuosic passages, is a true test of strength for the performers—and an elemental experience for the audience.

The evening’s soloists on the organ are the young talent Xianmei Fang and the internationally renowned Silvio Celeghin, with the National Philharmonic Orchestra.