Géza Anda Competition

Anyone who knows how to set off the grandest fireworks on the keyboard with Liszt, Rachmaninoff and the like might feel slightly underchallenged by Mozart. One might think so, but nothing could be further from the truth! With Mozart, every nuance can be heard; phrasing, interpretation and balance are all called for. In short: this is where the showboating chaff is separated from the artistic wheat, and that is why the semi-final of the Géza Anda Competition always features a Mozart round! This is also fitting for the competition’s namesake, the Hungarian-Swiss master pianist Géza Anda, who set new standards not only as a virtuoso but also with the very first complete recording of Mozart’s concertos. The Concours Géza Anda has been running since 1979, and features such as this Mozart round make it one of the most challenging piano competitions in the world. Since 2000, the Musikkollegium Winterthur has accompanied the semi-finals and also sponsors the ‘Mozart Prize’ there for the best Mozart interpretation. Incidentally, Géza Anda had also been closely associated with the Musikkollegium since 1944. At his final concert on 25 January 1973, he played Mozart’s ‘Jenamy’ Concerto, conducting the orchestra from the piano. His legacy lives on in the Concours – who knows what new stars will be discovered in the piano firmament at the 2024 edition!

Jury 2027: Gerhard Oppitz (President). The other members of the jury will be announced at a later date.