The irresistible sway of Johann Strauss’s An der schönen blauen Donau has made it arguably the most famous waltz of all time.

The Blue Danube

MediaCityUK

The renowned British musician Thomas Adès has put together an evening dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Pierre Boulez’s birth. Perhaps as a tribute to Boulez, he will appear in both roles for which Boulez was known: as a composer and a conductor.

EPSG:4326

Czech Philharmonic • Thomas Adès

Rudolfinum

An exuberant joie de vivre characterizes Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's Symphony No. 4, which he began composing in Rome and Naples. Franz Schubert's budget never allowed a trip to Italy—but at least Italian opera was performed in Vienna. He supposedly bet his friends that he could compose overtures as lively as Rossini's, and subsequently created the overture "in the Italian style." Busoni's brilliant comedy overture also follows in the tradition of Rossini, but uses a late-Romantic orchestra, while Richard Strauss wrote his melancholic, serene oboe concerto for a deliberately small ensemble.

Italy!

Stadttheater Klagenfurt

Between Wednesday 13 – Saturday 23 August, Chetham’s International Piano Summer School brings world class and legendary musicians to a vibrant, supportive community in central Manchester. Alongside lectures, open lessons and opportunities to develop new skills, you can discover a daily programme of recitals from world-class performers.

Chetham’s International Piano Summer School 2025 – Day Nine

The Stoller Hall

Concert "Rome"

Schloss Moritzburg

Chetham’s International Piano Summer School 2025 – Day Two

Esa-Pekka Salonen & Igor Levit

Gasteig HP8

Franz Liszt once described the Loh Orchestra, which had always remained loyal to him, as a "great miracle, locked up in a small town" . It is therefore only logical that the Thuringian Liszt Biennale will also stop in Sonderhausen in 2025, this year under the motto "Landscapes of the Soul". Liszt's E-flat major concerto provides insights into such an inner landscape, as it occupied the composer for more than 20 years. The framework is made up of works by Liszt's son-in-law Richard Wagner and Ferruccio Busoni, who followed in Liszt's footsteps as a pianist and lecturer. His "Berceuse élégiaque" is a son's touching farewell to his deceased mother.

4th Loh concert

Achteckhaus

Continuing Education Faculty Recital: Jacqueline Chew, piano

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Presenting creative arrangements for chamber ensembles by Arnold Schoenberg, Gustav Mahler and Alexander Zemlinsky at the renowned Wigmore Hall in London, Klangforum Wien celebrates these musical pioneers of the city of Vienna, who opposed the prevailing conservatism with their new ideas in music in the early 1900s. Under the baton of its Conductor-in-Residence Vimbayi Kaziboni, the ensemble is joined by mezzo-soprano Barbara Kozelj.

Wigmore Hall, London

Experience an afternoon of 20th-century masterpieces as violinist Lin He joins pianist Michael Gurt for a stunning recital. The program will feature two iconic works for violin and piano: Ernst Bloch’s Sonata No. 1 and Ferruccio Busoni’s Sonata No. 2. Don’t miss this exceptional performance showcasing the brilliance of these timeless compositions!

20th Century Masterpieces for Violin and Piano, Faculty Recital

Louisiana State University

One of the most compelling conductors of his generation, Daniele Rustioni makes his Symphony debut in conducting this program of Italian-themed works. The evening begins with Berlioz’s rousing Roman Carnival Overture. Ferruccio Busoni was one of the great Italian musicians of the late 19th and early 20th century. As a pianist he was world famous; as a composer he worked in almost every style, from Brahmsian romanticism to the strangest most dreamlike modernism. Making her Symphony debut, violinist Francesca Dego will perform one of her signatures: Busoni’s wonderfully dark and lyrical but dazzlingly virtuosic Violin Concerto. The second half of the program features Tchaikovsky’s symphonic fantasy based on one of the greatest and most tragic love stories ever told, the fatal affair between Francesca da Rimini and her brother-in-law Paolo and their subsequent murder by her enraged husband. It was Italy’s greatest poet Dante who immortalized their tale in his Inferno [Hell], and it was from Dante that Tchaikovsky took the motto which he wrote on the first page of his score:
There is no greater sorrow/Than a happy time remembered in a time of misery.
The concert ends with Respighi’s exuberantly dramatic Roman Festivals depicting scenes from ancient and contemporary Rome, from the gladiators and the harvest festival to celebrating the Epiphany in the Piazza Navona.

Busoni’s Violin Concerto

Jacobs Music Center

WIDE HORIZON Busoni's Berlin apartment was stacked with over 5,000 valuable volumes that the polymath collected and devoured on concert tours when he wasn't visiting museums. He was...

Gewandhaus Orchestra, Antonio Pappano Conductor

Gewandhaus

Italiensk fortolkning af Mozart

Alsion

‘One of the finest living pianists’, suggested Gramophone, while a disc in Jonathan Plowright’s collected Brahms series made it into the same publication’s choice of the 50 Greatest Recordings of the composer. BBC Music Magazine, meanwhile, thought that in the Op. 21 No. 1 Variations, ‘Plowright's refined pianism really comes into its own’.

Jonathan Plowright piano

Wigmore Hall

Guest Concert at the Gewandhaus Leipzig

“Grimaud is a capital-M Musician, one who, by connecting with the music, connects the audience to the music as well.” — Toronto Guardian

Hélène Grimaud

The Baker-Baum Concert Hall

“Joy and pain interweave in the light of the world…Thousands of years flash by with glory and strength, revealing that which is indestructible”. Extraordinary claims; but then extraordinary is the only word for the heaven-storming choral finale of Ferruccio Busoni’s colossal Piano Concerto: a masterpiece on the scale of a symphony, composed in 1904 by one of Mahler’s greatest fans.

Gerstein plays Busoni’s Piano Concerto

Barbican Centre

ITALIAN PIANO MUSIC FESTIVAL / Muzio Clementi, Roffredo Caetani, Alfonso Rendano, Ferruccio Busoni / Francesco Mattia Pellechia, piano

Bargemusic

Masterworks Series: ITALIAN PIANO MUSIC FESTIVAL / Ennio Morricone, Alfredo Casella, Ferruccio Busoni / Pietro Vaccari, piano

Matteo Cimatti (violin), Gabriel Francis-Dehqani (cello) & Zany Denyer (piano) play works by Paganini, Elgar, Busoni & Britten.

Music of Britain & Italy at St Dunstan-in-the-West

St Dunstan-in-the-West

An unclassifiable object, an excess, a fabulous animal, which cannot be tamed at first glance and demands that we forget all preconceived notions: is this Concerto even one? Yes and no. It is part symphony, part oratorio, it is conflictual, branches off into strange ramifications, all in five movements exceeding 75 minutes. It is the longest concerto in history. A pianist-philosopher, its author nourishes it with Brahms, Berlioz, Liszt and invites, in its coda, to draw closer to Allah. Mad!

Busoni, Piano Concerto - Kirill Gerstein / Sakari Oramo

Maison de la Radio et de la Musique

This event sees the launch of Goethe: His Faustian Life (Bloomsbury Continuum), the new book by a leading literary figure of our time whose wide range has already taken in studies of Milton, Tolstoy, Dickens, CS Lewis and Iris Murdoch. A.N. Wilson now turns his attention to one of the giants of German literature and to what is surely Goethe’s greatest and most influential creation – known to music lovers from the innumerable song settings, operas, choral works and programmatic pieces it has inspired.

Goethe: His Faustian Life

Embark on a musical journey with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra as they present "New Worlds" at the prestigious Lucerne Festival on the 9th of September, 2024. This enchanting evening of classical music is set to unfold at the iconic KKL in Lucerne, starting at 19:30. Under the baton of the acclaimed conductor Antonello Manacorda, with the mesmerizing soprano Anna Prohaska, the concert promises an unforgettable auditory experience.

The program for the night is a rich tapestry of musical masterpieces, beginning with Ferruccio Busoni's Berceuse Elégiaque, followed by Gustav Mahler's Seven Early Songs from the collection "Lieder und Gesänge," in a recent transcription by Eberhard Kloke for soprano and orchestra. The evening will culminate with Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 "From the New World," a piece that has captivated audiences worldwide since its premiere in 1893 and remains one of the composer's most beloved works.

This concert not only showcases the talents of the performers but also offers a deep dive into the thematic and musical connections between the pieces. Mahler's Seven Early Songs, influenced by the Wunderhorn theme, share a connection with Alban Berg's song collection of the same name, providing a rich context for the evening's repertoire. The performance of Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" is particularly special, as it marks a return to a piece the MCO performed a decade ago under Daniel Harding, creating a moment of reflection and celebration for both the orchestra and regular attendees of the Lucerne Festival.

Don't miss this opportunity to explore "New Worlds" through the sublime music of Busoni, Mahler, and Dvořák, performed by the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and featuring the exceptional Anna Prohaska. Book your tickets now for an evening that promises to be a highlight of the Lucerne Festival and a memorable experience for all who attend.

09 September 2024  Lucerne

Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre

Join us for an enchanting evening with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra as they present "New Worlds" on the 8th of September, 2024. This captivating concert will take place at the prestigious Teatro Filarmónico in Verona, starting at 20:30. This event is proudly presented by Teatro Filarmónico in collaboration with the Fundazione Arena di Verona.

The evening's program promises a journey through musical landscapes with pieces that have touched hearts and stirred souls across generations. The concert will open with Ferruccio Busoni's "Berceuse Elégiaque," followed by Gustav Mahler's "Seven Early Songs" from the collection "Lieder und Gesänge," in a recent transcription by Eberhard Kloke for soprano and orchestra. The night will culminate with Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 "From the New World," a piece that has captivated audiences worldwide since its premiere.

Under the baton of the esteemed conductor Antonello Manacorda, and featuring the sublime soprano Anna Prohaska, this concert is set to be a memorable exploration of new worlds through music. Mahler's "Seven Early Songs," influenced by the Wunderhorn theme, and Dvořák's Symphony from the New World, an all-time favorite, promise to deliver an evening of unparalleled musical delight.

This concert not only showcases the talents of world-renowned musicians but also offers a unique opportunity to experience the depth and breadth of classical music. Whether you are a long-time classical music enthusiast or new to the genre, this concert is sure to leave you moved and inspired.

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a magical night. Book your tickets now and let the Mahler Chamber Orchestra take you on a journey to new worlds through the power of music.

08 September 2024  Verona

Teatro Filarmonico

Mini Crab Salad Quiche Tart with Pickled Fennel, Cucumber and Tarragon Aioli
Warm Potato and Gruyère Salad with Whole Grain Mustard, Crème Fraîche, Fried Pancetta, Scallions, Sliced Egg and Thyme Oil

Piano Recital: Jeannette Fang

Garth Newel Music Center

Join us for an exquisite afternoon of piano music with Lam Wong, a talented Doctor of Musical Arts student under the tutelage of James Giles. This recital is set to take place on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at 12:00pm CDT in the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall, located within the prestigious Ryan Center for the Musical Arts at Northwestern University.

Lam Wong will perform a captivating program that includes masterpieces from the classical repertoire:
- J.S. Bach arr. Ferruccio Busoni: Chaconne from Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004
- Franz Liszt: Sposalizio from Années de pèlerinage, Deuxième année: Italie, S. 161
- Franz Liszt: Les jeux d’eaux à la Villa d’Este from Années de pèlerinage, Troisième année, S. 163
- Alexander Scriabin: Prelude and Nocturne for the Left Hand, Op. 9
- Felix Blumenfeld: Etude for the Left Hand, Op. 36
- Claude Debussy: Suite bergamasque, L. 75
- Claude Debussy: L’isle joyeuse, L. 106

This event is free and open to the public, offering a unique opportunity to experience the depth and breadth of piano literature performed by an emerging talent in the beautiful setting of the Galvin Recital Hall. The hall, known for its stunning acoustics and breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, provides the perfect backdrop for an afternoon of musical delight.

No tickets are required for this event, and it will also be available via live stream for those who cannot attend in person. Don't miss this chance to support a rising star in the classical music world and enjoy a program of works that span the emotional and technical spectrum of the piano repertoire.

Lam Wong, piano

Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall

Acclaimed worldwide for his profound musicianship and technical mastery, British cellist Steven Isserlis enjoys a uniquely varied career as a soloist, chamber musician, educator, author and broadcaster. He appears with the world’s leading orchestras and conductors, including the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Zurich Tonhalle and Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestras; and gives recitals every season in major musical centres. As a chamber musician, he has curated concert series for such prestigious venues as Wigmore Hall, 92nd St Y and the Salzburg Festival. Unusually, he also directs chamber orchestras from the cello.

Steven Isserlis, cello & Connie Shih, piano

Taube Koret Campus for Jewish Life

War Memorial and Performing Arts Center

Lesher Center for the Arts

Student Recital: Matthew Reeder

Schenley Farms Historic District

Your Richmond Symphony presents Brahms’ lyrical Symphony No. 2, the world premiere of a new work by our composer in residence Damien Geter, and Francesca Dego as the soloist in the Violin Concerto of Ferruccio Busoni. No less a romantic than Brahms, who echoes throughout this concerto, Busoni was a singular voice, an iconoclast who composed music for the future. This centennial celebration may just be the moment time catches up to Busoni.

Brahms, The Romantic

Dominion Energy Center

Berwaldhallen celebrates pianist and composer Sergei Rachmaninoff in five special programmes this autumn. Daniele Rustioni conducts the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Rachmaninoff’s third symphony, an important piece in the composer’s production. Acclaimed violinist Francesca Dego also makes her debut in Berwaldhallen with Ferruccio Busoni’s fresh and youthful violin concerto.

Rachmaninov 150: Symphony No. 3

SR Berwaldhallen

BBC National Orchestra of Wales and conductor Nil Venditti return to Brecon and Newport this September with a programme of Busoni, Bellini, Mendelssohn and our very own Grace Williams’ rhapsodic Violin Concerto with the prodigiously talented Geneva Lewis.

Visions of Italy

Theatr Brycheiniog

The Riverfront

It is with Mozart at the center that the young, up-and-coming conductor Alessandro Bonato leads the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra and leads the audience through an evening filled with musical greatness and contrasts.


The concert program ranges from sunny Italian tones to divine melodies, with Mozart’s timeless masterpieces as the common thread. The evening features Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21, with the winner of the prestigious Ferruccio Busoni Piano Competition, Arsenii Moon, who is currently recording on Deutsche Grammophon, as soloist. He also received the prestigious Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Prize, which is only awarded by unanimous decision of the jury – an honor that had not been awarded for almost three decades. The concert culminates with Mozart’s magnificent Symphony No. 41, the “Jupiter Symphony”, one of his last works, the epic finale of which, with its impressive fugue, stands as an incomparable and iconic musical masterpiece.

Italian interpretation of Mozart

Alsion Concert Hall

The Troll Hall

Perhaps the most, or only, conventional element of Busoni’s Piano Concerto is its title. Nearly 75-minutes in length with five movements—the last featuring a men’s chorus—and one of the largest orchestras of the entire genre, it requires nothing less than a herculean effort by the soloist not to mention the more than 100 other musicians performing.

Salonen & Levit Scale Busoni’s Masterpiece

Walt Disney Concert Hall

Known for her thoughtful musicianship and probing musical voice, Nancy Zhou resonates with audiences worldwide. More than 20 years since her orchestral debut, Nancy has collaborated with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Munich Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, and San Diego Symphony, among others.

Nancy Zhou, violin

Breaking Boundaries

University of California San Diego

In his debut with the Seattle Symphony, Italian conductor Daniele Rustioni is joined by an Italian soloist who is also performing her first concert with the orchestra: Francesca Dego. She proves her power to effortlessly fascinate audiences with her prize-winning interpretation of Busoni’s Violin Concerto, a tour-de-force of dark Romanticism and crackling energy. Next is the masterful Piano Quartet No. 1 by Brahms, who greatly influenced Busoni. The 12-tone composer Schoenberg, who argued for Brahms’ status as a major formal innovator, arranged this version for orchestra with great respect for Brahms’ own instrumentation style. In a similar vein, Webern’s moody chamber orchestra arrangement of Bach’s Ricercare a 6 from The Musical Offering is an intriguing take on Baroque music by a composer best known for atonal radicalism.

Bach, Busoni & Brahms

Benaroya Hall

Sir Simon Rattle and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe: Since their first collaboration in 2020, they have been a dream team – the international orchestra has now elevated the star conductor to honorary membership. Their second joint Elbphilharmonie concert puts the orchestra at the center of attention with a rhythmic fireworks performance by Bartók and the sonority of Brahms' Fourth Symphony.

Ferruccio Busoni

Events

Upcoming events

15 - 16 Jan, 2026

Italian interpretation of Mozart · Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester

17 - 18 Jan, 2026

Salonen & Levit Scale Busoni’s Masterpiece · Los Angeles Philharmonic

Jan 26, 2026

Nancy Zhou, violin · San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Jan 31, 2026

Breaking Boundaries · La Jolla Symphony & Chorus

5 - 7 Mar, 2026

Bach, Busoni & Brahms · Seattle Symphony

Past events

Dec 16, 2025

The Blue Danube · BBC Philharmonic

3 - 5 Dec, 2025

Czech Philharmonic • Thomas Adès · Czech Philharmonic

About

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