Award-winning pianist Ivett Gyöngyösi will perform works by Chopin, Bartók and Liszt on November 21st
A musical evening with Hungarian flair awaits visitors on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at the Literaturhaus Darmstadt. The Chopin Society and the German-Hungarian Society Darmstadt (DUG) invite you to a joint concert at 6 p.m. featuring the internationally acclaimed pianist Ivett Gyöngyösi. The program includes works by Fryderyk Chopin, Béla Bartók, and Franz Liszt. Afterwards, guests are invited to enjoy Hungarian pastries and wine.
Darmstadt is familiar territory for the pianist: she won first prize at the 10th International Chopin Piano Competition in the city of science back in 2013. Now, the multi-award-winning musician returns to the Literaturhaus (House of Literature) at Kasinostraße 3 for an evening concert.
From Chopin's mazurkas to Bartók's folk dances
The concert opens with two works by Fryderyk Chopin (1810–1849). First up is the Barcarolle op. 60, an expressive piano piece that evokes the image of a passionate gondola song.
Gyöngyösi then performs the four Mazurkas, Op. 30. These compositions reflect Chopin's connection to his Polish homeland, which he expressed musically during his life in Parisian exile.
With Béla Bartók (1881–1945), the focus then shifts to Eastern European folk music. The Hungarian composer intensively studied traditional songs and dances, incorporating their musical characteristics into his works.
Gyöngyösi plays a total of nine short piano pieces: the "Three Folk Songs" and the "Six Romanian Folk Dances". They incorporate traditional melodies and rhythms and convey an impression of Bartók's engagement with folk music.
Franz Liszt after the break
After the break, the pianist turns her attention to another important Hungarian composer: Franz Liszt (1811–1886).
Four works showcase different facets of his compositional output. It begins with the dramatic Ballade No. 1, followed by the light-footed composition "La Leggierezza".
With the “Sonetto 104 del Petrarca”, Liszt then strikes a calmer, more intimate tone, before the spirited “Rhapsodie Espagnole” concludes the concert evening.
International career began in childhood
Ivett Gyöngyösi is one of the most sought-after pianists of her generation internationally. Her musical career began at the age of seven.
At the age of eleven, she was accepted into the class for exceptionally gifted young talents at the renowned Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. Later, she continued her studies in Berlin and Geneva.
Since then, the pianist has performed in major concert halls around the world and appears regularly at international music festivals. Numerous prizes at national and international piano competitions document her artistic development.
In addition to her concert activities, Gyöngyösi is also involved in social and charitable causes. She supports projects for children with cancer and, as a charity ambassador, advocates for the promotion of young musicians.
Hungarian finale with pastries and wine
With this concert, the Chopin Society and the German-Hungarian Society Darmstadt not only want to present the music of important composers, but also promote cultural exchange.
After the musical program, concertgoers are invited to enjoy Hungarian pastries and wine together to round off the evening.
Tickets cost €20 and are available in advance via email and at the box office on the evening of the event. Discounted tickets are available for members of the two organizing societies and for students.
The most important information
Event: Hungarian concert evening with Ivett Gyöngyösi
Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026
Start time: 6 p.m.
Location: Literaturhaus Darmstadt, Kasinostraße 3
Program: Piano works by Fryderyk Chopin, Béla Bartók and Franz Liszt
Admission: 20 euros, discounts for members of the Chopin Society and the German-Hungarian Society, as well as for students
Tickets: Available at the box office or in advance via email to buero@chopin-gesellschaft.de
Organizers: Chopin Society and German-Hungarian Society Darmstadt
Further information: www.chopin-gesellschaft.de
(DARMSTADT – RED/PM)
Featured image: Ivett Gyöngyösi. Photo: Robert Balog
