New Liszt Ferenc Chamber Choir Recital

The program of the New Liszt Ferenc Chamber Choir spans several centuries of German choral literature, from Baroque religious devotion to the nocturnal lyricism of the Romantic era. Founded in 2010 by former and current students of the Liszt Academy, the ensemble has become an important figure in the Hungarian musical scene through its commitment to historical tradition and the lesser-known choral repertoire. The concert opens with Baroque sacred works and their 20th-century reflections, followed by Bach’s monumental two-choir work, which crowns the spiritual arc. In the second half of the concert, we hear a selection from the Romantic choral repertoire, in which the motif of the night comes into focus: works by Koessler and Schubert depict the silence of nature and the peace of the soul, while Brahms’s dark-toned In stiller Nacht and his two Nachtwache portray a whirlwind of emotions and romantical longing. Schumann’s ballad offers lyrical storytelling, while Cornelius’s piece, as a finale, connects images of the night and transience with meditative depth. The carefully curated program thus invites the listener on an inner journey: from fear to reassurance, from agitation to the silence of the night.