The Franz Liszt Academy of Music, now a state university with about 900 students, is the only music academy in the world that was founded by Franz Liszt himself in 1875. Liszt was a multi-faceted genius: piano virtuoso, composer, conductor, music teacher, author and philanthropist.
“Génie oblige!” was his credo: it is the duty of an artist to use his gifts for the benefit of humanity and to nurture genuine talent. Teaching at the Liszt Academy is rooted in this principle and reflects the vision of its open and versatile, internationally recognised, founder, who was years ahead of his time.
It is hardly an exaggeration to say that no other music school has had such an immense impact on the development of the world’s musical scene as the Liszt Academy. Béla Bartók, Zoltán Kodály,
Jenő Hubay, Ernő Dohnányi, Leó Weiner, Dávid Popper, Bence Szabolcsi, Sándor Végh, Imre Waldbauer, Ede Zathureczky are among the great names who figure in the Academy’s history and whose contribution to the world’s cultural heritage is immeasurable.
Among our prestigious alumni, you can find names like Sir George Solti, Antal Doráti, Sándor Végh, Vilmos Tátrai, György Ligeti, along with those who are now handing on the artistic legacy of the Liszt Academy, János Starker, György Kurtág, András Schiff, Péter Eötvös, Zoltán Kocsis, Dezső Ránki, Éva Marton, Miklós Perényi – names familiar to music lovers all over the world.
The Academy has always taken pride in meeting the standards set by its founders and revered professors, and this has resulted in providing the students with a special and demanding Hungarian style of teaching. Those who enter the Liszt Academy know that attendance implies a serious commitment to a perfectionist approach to music. Studying here means hard and disciplined work under the guidance of professors who are renowned performing artists, visiting professors at other illustrious universities, jury members of international competitions, and for whom teaching is a passion.
The world famous art-nouveau building houses one of the most beautiful concert halls in the world and is an inspiring environment for future artists, soloists, chamber musicians, orchestral players and teachers.
PLEASE NOTE, THAT THE MAIN BUILDING ON LISZT FERENC SQUARE IS CLOSED FOR A MAJOR RECONSTRUCTION.
Details on the actual premises are available here. Till the end of the reconstruction you can enjoy the Virtual Tour of the building.
