Lisztofonija-3 Piano Competition Announces Results
Held at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and Paliesius Manor on the weekend just before the All Saints’ Day (November 1), Lisztofonija-3 Piano Competition boasts excellent achievements demonstrated by the contestants and has led to the discovery of young talents. The monographic competition, run under the patronage of LMTA Professor Mūza Rubackytė and dedicated to Ferenc Liszt’s music featured ten young generation pianists representing several countries and different higher education schools. The first place was taken by Simonas Poška, piano student at Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media; the second place was given to Jonas Benjaminas Balsys, LMTA pianist; and the third place went to Vardan Geodokyan (Armenia) studying at Music Academy of Vytautas Magnus University (VMU MA) (Lithuania). Simonas Poška also took Jonas Žiburkus Audience Award and – together with Jonas Benjamin Balsys – The Musa Award established by Mūza Rubackytė’s family.
Lisztofonija’s most important award is a professional audio and video recording provided by Mama Studios (Lithuania) and their sound director Arūnas Zujus and film director Agnė Marcinkevičiūtė. Lisztuania, the association of Ferenc Liszt’s music in Lithuania, has offered a 600-euro prize pool, allocating 300 Eur to Jonas Žiburkus Audience Award and 300 Eur to The Musa Award established by Mūza Rubackytė’s family.
Lisztofonija-3 has also featured Natanas Bairakas (VMU MA), Petro Bondar (Ukraine, VMU MA), Monika Mašanauskaitė (University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, LMTA graduate), Medeinė Mickevičiūtė (Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, LMTA graduate), Anastasija Šumskaitė (LMTA), Olena Rozhestvenna (Ukraine, VMU MA), and Airinė Taučaitė (LMTA). The jury members were LMTA Professor Mūza Rubackytė (chair of the jury), Professor Rūta Rikterė, Professor Jurgis Karnavičius, director of the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra; pianist Egidijus Mikšys, and pianist Eglė Andrejevaitė, a representative of Lisztuania, the association of Ferenc Liszt’s music in Lithuania, and the originator of the idea of the Lisztofonija competition.
The competition has been held since 2017, as a product of cooperation between the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and the Lisztuania Association, and takes place every two years. Yet, the next – the fourth – competition is to be held in October 2022, with a further two-year interval. This year’s Lisztofonija was dedicated to the 210th birthday of Ferenc Liszt. Lisztofonija’s patron and one of the most prominent interpreters of F. Liszt’s music, Prof. Mūza Rubackytė reveals: “My goal, our goal is to spread the word about this exceptional and versatile personality. Liszt’s guiding light continues to evoke awe, admiration, and sensitivity of our souls. While shining brightly in the countries where the composer lived – Hungary, Austria, Germany, France, Switzerland, here, the power of this light has yet to be fully revealed.”
Lisztofonija’s auditions, award ceremony and gala concert featuring the laureates took place on October 28 at the LMTA Grand Hall. The next day, October 29, at Paliesius Manor, Prof. Mūza Rubackytė ran master classes for the winners of the competition, and on October 30, Mūza Rubackytė and Eglė Andrejevatė, together with Lisztofonija’s laureates, invited the audience to a concert during which the winner of Jonas Žiburkus Audience Award was announced. On October 31, audio and video recordings of the winners’ performances were made at the LMTA Grand Hall.
Prof. Rūta Rikterė, Head of the LMTA Piano Department and Vice-Rector for Studies concludes that “initiated by Prof. Mūza Rubackytė, Lisztofonija has become one of the regular competitions organised by LMTA. It aims at encouraging young pianists to perform and record works by Ferenc Liszt. For academic youth, this event offers relevance and interest: it has become a platform of virtuosity for young performers providing an opportunity for challenging their skills and demonstrating their mastery.”
LMTA information
5 November 2021