News
Kristóf Baráti is Artist of the Year
As announced at a press conference of Concerto Budapest, Kristóf Baráti will be the Orchestra's Artist of the Year in their 2024/25 season. 
First CD of Valentin Magyar
Hungaroton released in early April the first CD of Valentin Magyar entitled "Sentimental Moments". The CD features works of Sergey Rachmaninov from three cycles: Etudes-tableaux, Préludes and Morceaux de fantaisie.
Brahms Piano Quartets with Dénes Várjon and Giovanni Guzzo
Two brilliant Classical Concert artists, pianist Dénes Várjon and violinist Giovanni Guzzo are members of the "dream distribution" that has recently recorded for the Hungaroton label all three Brahms Piano Quartets.  Their partners are cellist Miklós Perényi and the viola player Máté Szücs. The double CD was released on 1 March, 2024.
New CD of the Simon/Várjon Piano Duo
Hungaroton released at the end of May the new CD of Dénes Várjon and Izabella Simon featuring Gustav Mahler's Symphony No.1 in an arrangement of Bruno Walter for piano four hands.
New Bartók CD of Kristóf Baráti
Kristóf Baráti and his wife, Karolina Kondorosi have recorded for the Hungaroton label Béla Bartók's 44 Duos for Two Violins. The CD was released on 23 February, 2023.
Valentin Magyar joins CCA roster
Classical Concert Agency is delighted to welcome young pianist Valentin Magyar among its artists.
New CD of the Simon-Várjon Piano Duo
The Hungarian record label, Hungaroton has just released the new CD of Izabella Simon and Dénes Várjon, entitled "The French Album", featuring works by Fauré, Debussy and Ravel.
Giovanni Guzzo Professor of Violin in Graz
With the academic year 2022/2023 Giovanni Guzzo has been appointed Professor of Violin at the University of Music and Performing Arts (Kunstuniversität) in Graz, Austria.
Dénes Várjon Invited to be Artistic Director of Lofoten Piano Festival in 2022
As announced by the management of the Festival, Dénes Várjon has been invited to be the artistic leader of Norways's prestigious piano festival held annually in Lofoten. The press release points out that Dénes Várjon has extensive experience as artistic director at several festivals, including leading for many years a chamber series at the Liszt Academy in Budapest. 
Giovanni Guzzo Appointed Concertmaster of Camerata Salzburg
Classical Concert Agency is proud to announce the appointment of its violinist, Giovanni Guzzo as new concertmaster of Camerata Salzburg.
Dénes Várjon Receives Kossuth Prize
Classical Concert Agency's pianist Dénes Várjon has been awarded with Hungary's highest cultural award, the Kossuth Prize, following in the footsteps of revered artists such as András Schiff, György Ligeti, György Kurtág, Éva Marton, Péter Eötvös and Iván Fischer.
Dénes Várjon Gets Prestigious ICMA Award
For his CD recorded with Tabea Zimmermann and Jörg Widmann, Dénes Várjon received the prestigious International Classical Music Award (ICMA). The prize was handed over to the great Hungarian pianist at a festive gala concert in Lucerne's KKL Concert Hall on the 10th of May.
Gábor Káli Jumps in for Ailing Iván Fischer
Gábor Káli received fabulous reviews as well as enthousiastic applauses both from orchestra members and from the audiences for having brilliantly saved a major European tour of the world famous Budapest Festival Orchestra jumping in for ailing music director Iván Fischer.
De la Nuit - New CD of Dénes Várjon
The prestigious label ECM released on August 31st the new solo album of Dénes Várjon. The CD entitled "De la Nuit" ("The Night") features Schumann's Fantasiestücke Op.12, Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit and Béla Bartók's Out of Doors.
István Várdai Gets Chair of Heinrich Schiff in Vienna
István Várdai has been appointed Professor of Cello at the Music Academy of Vienna (Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst). Mr. Várdai started his tenure in October 2018. He follows in this prestigious position the world-famous cellist, Heinrich Schiff who died in 2016.  

Dénes Várjon Gets Award of German Record Critics
The prestigious German Record Critics' Award was established in 1980 to set the "most rigorous standards for supreme achievement and quality" in the field of music recording. The jury consists of 156 music critics, writers and musicologists in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. 
Várdai, Várjon and Baráti Among Musicians Most in Demand in 2017
Bachtrack, the world's largest London based classical music listings site has released the statistics for the past year. In 2017 Bachtrack listed over 32.000 (!) concerts and performances of classical music across the globe, so their statistics are the truest reflection of the international scene possible.
New Kodály CD of István Várdai
Brilliant Classics released on November 4th the new CD of István Várdai featuring Kodály's complete music for cello. With his longstanding pianist partner, Klára Würtz Várdai plays besides the monumental Sonata for Solo Cello, Op.8 and the Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op.4 three less well-known pieces for cello of the great Hungarian composer: Sonatina, Capricco and Adagio.
CD of Giovanni Guzzo with Ysaye Solo Sonatas Released
The Rubicon Classical label has just released the integral of Ysaӱe's Sonatas for Solo Violin, some of the most formidably difficult music in the repertoire. "We haven’t been short of recordings of Eugène Ysaӱe’s six sonatas lately, but this one, by Venezuelan violinist Giovanni Guzzo, deserves extra attention" the Guardian writes about the CD.
Zsolt Hamar Appointed Music Director of Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical Concert Agency artist Zsolt Hamar has been appointed music director of the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra. 
Violinist Giovanni Guzzo Joins Classical Concert Agency Roster
Classical Concert Agency is proud to welcome the signing of violinist Giovanni Guzzo to its roster, as of January 1, 2017.
István Várdai Awarded "Ex du Pré-Harrell Stradivarius"
István Várdai has received the extended loan of the famous "Ex du Pré-Harrell Stradivarius".
Two Classical Concert Artists Get 2016 Gramofon Prize
The Hungarian classical music magazine Gramofon has announced the winners of this year's Gramofon Prizes. In the category "Best Hungarian classical music CD" the first prize (ex eaquo) went to Dénes Várjon and Kristóf Baráti.
Dénes Várjon on Tour with the Budapest Festival Orchestra
Dénes Várjon was recently soloist of Iván Fischer's brilliant Budapest Festival Orchestra at two major foreign tours. In June they performed Liszt's Piano Concerto No.2 in Vilnius (Lithuania), Riga (Latvia) and Ravenna (Italy), in mid-August Bartók's Piano Concerto No.3 in San Sebastian (Spain).
Kaposfest Again a Huge Success
The seventh edition of Kaposfest International Chamber Music Festival was held at Kaposvár, Hungary between 13-19 August. This was the second year under the artistic leadership of István Várdai and Kristóf Baráti.
Dénes Várjon Back from Hugely Successful North-American Tour
The great Hungarian pianist was on tour in the US and Canada between February 7th and 18th, with concerts and master-classes in St.Paul (The Frederic Chopin Society), Vancouver (Vancouver Chopin Society), Philadelphia (Philadelphia Chamber Music Society), Strathmore (Music in the Mansion), Washington D.C. (Phillips Collection), New York (Carnegie Hall) and New Haven (Horowitz Piano Series at Yale School of Music).
Hungaroton releases new CDs with Várjon, Baráti and Várdai
The Hungarian label Hungaroton has just released three new CDs: the much-awaited recording of all five Beethoven piano concertos with Dénes Várjon, a selection of famous violin encores with Kristóf Baráti and a CD entitled "Singing Cello" with István Várdai.
Marlboro, Oxford, Krzyżowa: Busy Summer Schedule for Dénes Várjon
Return to legendary Marlboro Festival, solo recital in Oxford, visit to Krzyżowa in Poland to attend new festival - summer once again has been extremely busy for Dénes Várjon.
Huge Success of Kaposfest under Baráti and Várdai as Artistic Leaders
The first edition of Kaposfest Chamber Music Festival under the artistic leadership of Kristóf Baráti and István Várdai was held between 13-19 August and proved to be a huge success.
New Korngold CD of Kristóf Baráti Released
The Dutch label Brilliant Classics has released the recording of two Korngold pieces with Kristóf Baráti: the  Violin Concerto in D Major, Op.35, and the Sonata for Violin and Piano in D Major, Op.6, written at the age of 16.
István Várdai Receives Liszt Prize
On the occasion of Hungary's national holiday, March 15th, the Hungarian government awarded the Liszt Prize, the nation's highest award in the domain of classical music to István Várdai. The decoration follows the young cellist's recent victory at the highly prestigious ARD competition in Munich.
Russian National Orchestra Performed with Two Classical Artists Soloists
The Russian National Orchestra, one of the world's leading symphony orchestras gave under the baton of Mikhail Pletnov two concerts in Hungary in January: the one in Pécs featured István Várdai, the second in Budapest Kristóf Baráti as soloist.
New Tchaikovsky CD of István Várdai Released
The Dutch label Brilliant Classics released in December 2014 István Várdai's new CD featuring the complete works of the great Russian composer for solo cello and orchestra. 
István Várdai Wins ARD Competition in Munich
Phantastic success - the young Hungarian cellist, István Várdai has won one of the world's most prestigious music competitions, that of ARD in Munich. Várdai won back in 2008 the Geneva Competition, too, which makes his Munich victory even more exceptional.
New Brahms CD of Kristóf Baráti Released
Brilliant Classics released on August 31st a CD with Kristóf Baráti and Klára Würtz playing the three Brahms violin-piano sonatas. The same musicians recorded last month a French sonata programme.
Dénes Várjon to Record All Five Beethoven Piano Concertos
The Hungarian label Hungaroton is going to record all five Beethoven piano concertos with Dénes Várjon. The sessions start in mid-September and the three CDs will be released in 2015.
CCA artists at Eszterháza
The wonderful Esterházy Palace at Fertőd, home of the composer Joseph Haydn for 30 years, hosts three CCA artists, István Várdai, Kristóf Baráti and Dénes Várjon in the 2014 edition of the summer festival called "Eszterháza Festivities"
Dénes Várjon: Three Superb Trios
Widely considered as one of the finest chamber musicians of our times, Dénes Várjon is performing between February and April in three trios of exceptional quality: with Caroline and Jörg Widmannn, with Tabea Zimmermann and Jörg Widmann, finally with Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis. 
Kristóf Baráti Gets Kossuth Prize
On the eve of March 15th, Hungary's national holiday, the President of Hungary decorated Kristóf Baráti with the Kossuth Prize, the countries most prestigious cultural award. The ceremony held in the Parliament of Hungary was attended also by the Prime Minister of Hungary.
Kristóf Baráti: The Korngold Project
Kristóf Baráti was the soloist of a tour of the Philharmonie Zuidnederland in late January 2014, with Korngold's Violin Concerto. Brilliant Classics has recorded the piece to be released with the composer's Sonata for Violin and Piano.
A Busy Start to a New Year for Dénes Várjon
2014 started with an extremely busy schedule for Dénes Várjon with recitals, master-classes and chamber music concerts in Paris, Philadelphia, Washington, London, Padova and Budapest.
World Premier in Madrid with Kristóf Baráti
Kristóf Baráti performed on October 10th in Madrid the world premiere of Eunho Chang's violin concerto "Fantasía luminosité" with the Spanish Radio and Television Orchestra.
Zsolt Hamar conducts Wagner in Wiesbaden
The new production of Wagner's The Flying Dutchman premiered on September 7th under the baton of general music director Zsolt Hamar has been extremely well received both by critics and audiences in Wiesbaden.
Back from festivals, Baráti records Brahms sonatas
Kristóf Baráti's crowded summer programme included concerts at four important European music festivals: Szombathely (Bartók seminar), Toblach (Mahler Music Weeks), Rheingau and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
István Várdai in Yaroslavl
The cellist István Várdai performed on May 12th with the Moscow Soloists works of Paganini and Tchaikovsky in the Russian town of Yaroslavl at Yuri Bashmet's Festival.
Dénes Várjon back from New Zealand
Dénes Várjon is just back from New Zealand where he performed at the Mozart Festival in Christchurch and at the New Zealand International Piano Festival in Auckland.
Photo exhibition of Kristóf Baráti
Kristóf Baráti is not only a brilliant violinist, but also an excellent photographer. The Kodály Centre at Pécs presents between March 12nd and April 11th an exhibition of his photos about the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter of Pécs.

Dénes Várjon with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra
The Hungarian pianist, widely acknowledged as one of the finest interpreters of Bartók's works, performed on March 10th the composer's Piano Concerto No.3. in the Great Hall of the St.Petersburg Philharmony with huge success The conductor was Dmitry Alexeev.
Várjon Dénes at the Bartók Marathon
Várjon Dénes gave two concerts at the Bartók Marathon on February 3rd in the Palace of Arts in Budapest.
Baráti records Ysaÿe solo sonatas
Kristóf Baráti has recorded all six Ysaÿe violin solo sonatas between 10-12 January in the Kodály Centre at Pécs. The CD is due to be released by the Dutch label Brilliant Classics in Autumn 2013.
Dénes Várjon with the Budapest Festival Orchestra
Dénes Várjon was the soloist of Iván Fischer's world famous Hungarian orchestra in three concerts in Budapest and two in Salzburg, playing Ernst von Dohnányi's Variations on a Nursery Rhyme.
Zsolt Hamar makes his debut in Wiesbaden
Zsolt Hamar is from the 2012/2013 season General Music Director of the Hessisches Staatstheater, Wiesbaden. The Hungarian conductor made his debut on September 8th leading a new production of Aida.
Viktória Mester and Dénes Várjon at Maribor Festival
Maribor Festival celebrated this year its 50th anniversary. Europe's Cultural Capital in 2012, the Slovenian city has invited for its prestigious Festival, held between September 5th and 15th, dozens of prominent musicians from all over the world. 
Baráti records Beethoven sonatas
The complete sonatas for violin and piano of Beethoven was released by Brilliant Classics at the beginning of September.
Dénes Várjon at Salzburg Festival
Audiences of the world famous festival could hear the Hungarian pianist in two concerts on August 6th and 8th.
Dénes Várjon at Marlboro
The Hungarian pianist has been invited to legendary Marlboro Music Festival.
Chateau Concert
Kristóf Baráti was soloist of the Budapest Festival Orchestra.
Zsolt Hamar at Maggio Musicale

Huge success of "Bartók - Double Bill" in Florence brings immidiate reinvitation for Hungarian conductor.