BUDAPEST, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Hungary on Thursday marked the 100th anniversary of Gyorgy Kurtag, a world-renowned composer and pianist, with a series of high-profile concerts and premieres.
The "Kurtag 100" festival, organized by the Budapest Music Center (BMC), serves as the centerpiece of the nationwide commemorations. A highlight of the festivities was the official birthday concert on Thursday evening at the Bartok National Concert Hall of the Mupa Budapest. Kurtag himself attended the concert.
Born on Feb. 19, 1926, the two-time Kossuth Prize winner is widely regarded as one of the most significant figures in contemporary music. His career highlights include the piano series "Jatekok" (meaning "Games") and the 2018 opera "Fin de partie," which premiered at Milan's La Scala.
A recipient of the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize, Kurtag had lived in Berlin, Vienna, and France before returning to Hungary in 2015 and currently resides at the BMC in Budapest.
Kurtag is widely regarded as one of Hungary's greatest living composers and a direct heir to Hungary's reputation in classical music.
