We’re celebrating at our alma mater, the Liszt Academy. Sixty-three years ago, it was here—within the university’s halls—that a group of young musicians came together to form the ensemble that would go on to tour the world and win countless hearts for the art of chamber music. With its sixteen members, the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra represents a unique format: larger than a string quartet yet characterized by the same intense musical interplay, and smaller than a symphonic orchestra yet capable of delivering equally powerful impact.

Péter Tfirst, who has been a member of the ensemble for over 23 years, continues a family tradition—his father, Zoltán Tfirst, also played in the orchestra. In 2001, founding member János Rolla invited him to join the ensemble and eventually passed on the role of concertmaster to him.

The Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra has continually rejuvenated itself over the decades. “With each new member, the ensemble changes subtly,” says Péter Tfirst. “Perhaps we play differently, perhaps different styles suit us better. It doesn’t work to predefine something and then try to force it into being. Music has to emerge organically.”

World-renowned cellist István Várdai has served as the ensemble’s artistic director for five years, and his influence is clearly reflected in the repertoire. “István is an artist of extraordinary breadth who performs in some of the most important venues of the international music scene and brings back his discoveries and inspirations to us,” Tfirst adds. “The program of the March 20 concert is very much shaped by his vision,” he notes, citing the ensemble’s recent premieres of works by Jörg Widmann, Philip Glass, Pavel Fischer, and Max Richter’s Four Seasons Recomposed as examples. The ensemble strives to ensure that each concert offers something fresh and unique—modern works that resonate emotionally and are accessible to a broad audience. The orchestra’s most recent album, Synergy, released by the prestigious Leipzig-based Accentus Music label, was also conceived in this spirit.

The March 20 concert program is packed with rarities that would draw interest on any European stage. Finnish composer Olli Mustonen’s Nonet No. 1 for nine instruments is a lively, witty piece that bridges past and present. Even more fascinating is the music of Mieczysław Weinberg, a composer of Jewish descent who fled from Poland to the Soviet Union during World War II. Though he achieved only sporadic success during his lifetime, his oeuvre is exceptional, and since the 2010s, he has been the subject of increasing international attention. Some even compare his musical revival to the Mahler renaissance of the 1960s. The concert will feature Weinberg’s rarely performed Cello Concertino—a Hungarian premiere and a notable international event as well—with István Várdai as soloist.

The evening concludes with a celebrated Hungarian masterpiece: Béla Bartók’s Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, composed in 1937 on commission from Switzerland. It is a formidable challenge to perform at the highest level.

For this work, we’ve invited a guest ensemble: the Anima Musicae Chamber Orchestra. Like the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, Anima Musicae was formed by young musicians from the Liszt Academy, albeit nearly half a century later, under the direction of László G. Horváth. This setup brings to life Bartók’s original vision, where one string orchestra is positioned on the left, the other on the right, creating a rarely achievable sonic experience. “It’s not often that we get to perform with another ensemble,” says Tfirst. “In the history of the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, I can only recall two such occasions. But we’ve never performed Bartók’s Music in this way before.”

The concertmaster hopes that many more birthday concerts lie ahead—and that the works performed will inspire the audience’s imagination, showing just how much a string orchestra can express.