Mo­zart at the Gé­za An­da com­pe­ti­ti­on

Anyone who knows how to ignite the great keyboard fireworks of Liszt, Rachmaninoff and Co. feels slightly underwhelmed by Mozart. You could think so, but far from it! With Mozart everything can be heard, phrasing, composition and balance are required. In short: This is where the dazzling chaff separates from the artistic wheat, and that's why the semi-finals of the Concours Géza Anda always say: Mozart Round! That also fits the namesake, the Hungarian-Swiss master pianist Géza Anda, who not only set standards as a virtuoso, but also with the very first complete recording of the Mozart concertos. The Concours Géza Anda has existed since 1979, and because of special features such as this Mozart round, it is one of the most difficult piano competitions in the world. The Musikkollegium Winterthur has accompanied the semi-finals since 2000 and donated the "Mozart Prize" for the best Mozart interpretation. Incidentally, Géza Anda had also been closely associated with the Musikkollegium since 1944. At his last concert on January 25, 1973, he played Mozart's "Jenamy" concerto, directing the orchestra from the grand piano. His legacy lives on in the Concours -- who knows what new fixed stars in the piano sky there will be to discover in the 2024 edition!