(MTI) - The year-long programme celebrates the birth bicentenary of Hungarian composer and pianist Franz Liszt.
President Pal Schmitt addressed the audience before the concert, and said the bicentenary offered an opportunity for Liszt's music to be made more popular both in Hungary and in other countries.
"Liszt was born Hungarian; patriotism dominated his whole character, but it did not prevent him from being European at the same time," the President said. He added that Hungary's European Union Presidency was also an excellent opportunity to present Hungarian culture all through the continent, "from Madrid to Vienna and from Brussels to Rome".
"In the language of Liszt, the special language music, we can speak of concord, friendship, and love, in an easy, clear and nice way," Schmitt added.
