Glocal Piano Festival

a piano marathon

“Music was born free and to win freedom is its destiny”. With these words, the great pianist, composer, and essayist Ferruccio Busoni captured one of the fundamental aspects of the essence of music. What matters, and what must always remain paramount, is art and the opportunity to freely express and showcase its full potential, regardless of whether artists are performing in a concert series, a competition, or a festival. In these settings, a knowledgeable and curious audience can play a leading role.

The Busoni-Mahler Foundation has completely renewed the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition. The new format opens with an international festival – the Glocal Piano Festival – consisting of nine piano marathons held at nine world-renowned concert venues in Boston, Miami, Shanghai, Tokyo, Rome, Florence, Vienna, Paris and Dortmund, with the participation of 120 musicians.

The young artists, performing a repertoire of their own choosing, will appear before an attentive and discerning audience. The festival will thus offer a highly relevant insight into the musical skill and interpretation of the new generation of pianists and will determine which candidates will advance to the finals of the competition, scheduled for late summer 2027 in Bolzano/Bozen.

Rediscovering, understanding, and interpreting masterpieces in an ever-new light also means rejuvenating our own ways of thinking and listening. This is precisely what makes this initiative so compelling: its ability to build anticipation and create an authentic cultural experience.

Take the time to listen to this young generation of performers: it is truly worthwhile!
 

Go to the candidates list