In order to celebrate that Hungary holds the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2011 and to honour that Italy has been one united nation for 150 years, Hungary’s culture is introduced to the public in Turin. On 17th March 1861, the national unity of Italy was proclaimed in the capital of the Piedmont region, and there were several Hungarian soldiers too who had helped them with their struggles. The opening of Turin’s newest cultural centre, the Officine Grandi Riparazioni (OGR) was timed to coincide with this event; and the new centre hosts an interactive exhibition which introduces the Italian-Hungarian relations at the time of the Risorgimento, the common points in the history and culture of the two nations, and last but not least the life and works of Franz Liszt.

During the programme series called L’Ungheria a Italia 150 which takes place between 8th April and 16th April, five musical evenings are organized. Following the pianist Péter Balatoni’s Liszt concert, Márta Sebestény performs; their performances are followed by Kerekes Band’s ethno funk concert on 14th April. Next day, Béla Szakcsi Lakatos and Kálmán Oláh, jazz pianists, are performing improvisations on the basis of Liszt works. The last concert of the series is given by the Karaván Família, the band playing Gypsy music with blues and flamenco elements.

Furthermore, the concerts of the Liszt jubilee year take place in Great-Britain in April too. The leading Liszt scholar, Alan Walker, gave a lecture with the title Liszt and the Keyboard – how the Wizard cast his spells at the Royal Academy of Music on 7th April. Following the lecture, a roundtable discussion of well-known Liszt scholars took place, after which the young and extremely talented English pianist Grace Frances played pieces of the composer Liszt, who was born 200 years ago.

On the 17th April, the English public can listen to Tamás Vásáry, who was awarded the Kossuth Prize, and Tamás Érdi, who was awarded the Prima Primissima Prize.  The two pianists play a four-hands piece of Schubert and several pieces of Liszt at the well-known Hurtswood Music Farm, a storehouse for walnut converted into a music hall located near Borough Green in the District of Kent, in the region which is famous for its walnut orchards.
 
The last programme of the series is Gábor Somfai’s concert at the Hungarian Cultural Centre in London. The young viola player graduated from the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in 2009. He has won several prizes, including 1st Prize in the Third National College String Competition. He has played with the Danubia Symphony Orchestra, the MR Symphony Orchestra and the Ferenc Liszt Chamber Orchestra. He was supported by the Klassz Talent Program, and he is currently studying under Rivka Golani at Trinity Laban Conservatoire supported by the Liszt Academy Network.