8TH LISZT – BARTÓK
INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
SOFIA, December 5-7, 2015
COMPETITION RULES
The eighth edition of the Liszt – Bartók International Piano Competition will be dedicated to
the 70th anniversary of the death of Hungarian composer Béla Bartók.
The organizers of the Competition would like to invite pianists who are currently studying at
specialized music high schools or academies in Bulgaria and abroad. In doing so they hope to
continue to support and develop the interest toward the music of two Hungarian geniuses,
who, each in his unique way, laid the foundations of the modern trends in composition and
piano playing.
The competition is organized by the Hungarian Cultural Institute in Sofia with the Balassi
Institute (Budapest) and the Professor Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music.
The Competition is held with the support of the Embassy of Hungary in Sofia, the Ministry of
Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria, and the Professor Lyuba Encheva Foundation.
SENDING APPLICATIONS AND DRAWING OF LOTS
All applications should be e-mailed to uki@uki.bg by 5 p.m., Monday, 23 November 2015.
The drawing of lots in which the competitors will perform will take place at 12 p.m. on 3
December 2015 at the Hungarian Cultural Institute (Sofia 1000, 16 Aksakov Str.). The
competitors are not required to attend the drawing of lots. All competitors will be notified
about the time of their acoustic rehearsal and the order in which they will perform by e-mail
on 3 December 2015.
COMPETITION RULES
The Competition will be held in three age groups:
Age group 1: competitors born after 1 December 2000
Age group 2: competitors born after 1 December 1996
Age group 3: competitors born after 1 December 1983
The results will be announced after all auditions have been held.
Competition Timetable:
Auditions:
Saturday, December 5– Age group 3, First round (in the morning) and age group 2 (in the
afternoon)
Sunday, December 6 – Age group 3, Second round
Monday, December 7– Age group 1(in the morning), laureates’ rehearsal (4 p.m. – 6 p.m.)
Gala concert: Monday, December 7, 7 p.m.
Warm up:
Age group 1 and age group 2 - National Academy of Music, 6, Akad. Lumil Stoyanov str.
Age group 3 - National Academy of Music, 94, Evlogi and Hristo Georgievi blvd.
Acoustic rehearsals and concerts:
Professor Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music, Big Concert Hall, 94, Evlogi and
Hristo Georgievi blvd.
JURY
The jury of the Competition comprises renowned Bulgarian pianists and pedagogues. It is
traditionally presided by foremost Hungarian pianist and pedagogue Professor Balázs
Szokolay.
The jury has the right to alter, if necessary, the timetable of the Competition.
The jury’s decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
The members of the jury cannot judge the performance of their students who take part in the
Competition.
In the event of equal scores, the decision of the president of the jury will be taken into
consideration.
The organizers of the Competition should not be held responsible for any personal accidents
the competitors may suffer on the Competition premises or during their stay in Sofia.
By signing the Registration Form each candidate attests that he or she has agreed to the Rules
of the Competition.
The competitors must cover their own travel expenses. The organizers are unable to cover the
accommodation of the competitors.
The competitors are exempt of entry fee.
The candidates must fill in the attached Registration Form and send it back by e-mail to the
Hungarian Cultural Institute together with: 1) a copy of their birth certificate, 2) a candidate’s
recent photo (passport format), 3) a short CV which should mention the competitor’s former
education, piano teachers, and participation in concerts. Applications can also be submitted in
person at the Office of the Secretary of the Hungarian Cultural Institute in Sofia.
Deadline for submission of applications – 23 November 2015
Hungarian Cultural Institute – Sofia 1000, 16 Aksakov Str.
Tel. 02 987 23 07, 987 29 63
e-mail: uki@uki.bg
http://szofia.balassiintezet.hu
Opening hours: 9 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
COMPETITION REPERTOIRE
Age group 1
Performances should last 12 – 15 min.
І. Ferenc Liszt
One or several pieces of free choice
ІІ. Béla Bartók
One or several pieces of free choice from the following:
“Rumanian Christmas Songs”, “For Children”, “15 Hungarian Peasant Songs”, “10 Easy
Pieces”, “Rumanian Folk Dances”, “9 Little Pieces”, “Microcosmos”, etc.
Age group 2
Performances should last 20-30 min.
I. Ferenc Liszt
1) One or several lyrical pieces from the following:
“Liebesträume”, “Consolations”, “Années de pèlerinage”, “Sonetti del Petrarca”; a Liszt
transcription of a song by Franz Schubert, etc.
2) One or several virtuoso pieces from the following:
Mephisto-Walzer, Fantasie und Fuge, Tarantella, Trauervorspiel und Trauermarsch, ballades,
polonaises, légendes, rhapsodies, variations, studies, etc.
II. Béla Bartók
One or several pieces from the following:
“Sketches” op. 9 (№1-4 or №5-7); “Little Suite” “3 Rondos”; “Rumanian Folk Dances” (from
Hungary); “4 Dirges” op. 9а; “Sonatina”, “15 Hungarian Peasant Songs” (№1-6 or №7-15);
“Allegro barbaro”, 4 bagatelles from “14 Bagatelles” op. 6; 3 pieces of free choice from
“Microcosmos” (Book VI); “3 Songs”; “Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm” from
Microcosmos” (Book VI), etc.
Age group 3
First round.
Performances should last 15-20 min.
І. Ferenc Liszt
1) One or several pieces of free choice or a piano transcription by Liszt of a
composition by another author
2) One or several studies of free choice
ІІ. Béla Bartók
One or several pieces or parts of cyclic compositions from the following:
“2 Rumanian Dances” op. 8a; “2 Elegies” op. 8b; “3 Burlesques” op. 8 c; “3 Studies”; Deux
Images” op. 10; “Improvisations on Hungarian Folksongs” op. 20; “Rhapsody”, op. 1,
“Suite”, op. 14; “Out of Doors”; “Dance Suite”, “Sonata”, etc.
Second round:
Performances should last 30-35 min.
Works of Ferenc Liszt and Béla Bartók of free choice
When choosing the repertoir it is recommended for each age groups to prefer the works of
Béla Bartók in connection with the 70th anniversary of his death.
Information about the scores can be obtained from the Office of the Secretary of the
Hungarian Cultural Institute (16 Aksakov Str.).
PRIZES:
Age group 1:
First Prize –350 BGN
Second Prize – 250 BGN
Third Prize – 200 BGN
Three encouragement prizes – 100 BGN each
Age group 2:
First Prize – 600 BGN
Second Prize – 500 BGN
Third Prize – 400 BGN
Two encouragement prizes – 150 BGN each
Age group 3:
First Prize – 1200 BGN
Second Prize – 900 BGN
Third Prize – 700 BGN
Ferenc Liszt Special Prize – 300 BGN
Béla Bartók Special Prize – 300 BGN
*
Special Prize awarded by the Ministry of Culture
Special Prize awarded by the Professor Lyuba Encheva Foundation for Overall Performance
Special Prize awarded by His Excellency Mr. András Klein, Ambassador of Hungary to
Bulgaria