The Rising Stars series run by the European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO) is an initiative of the prestigious concert halls that make up the alliance to provide the musicians and ensembles selected – according to strict professional criteria – from among the institutions’ nominees the opportunity to embark on a concert tour to perform in major venues like Vienna’s Konzerthaus, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, London’s Barbican Centre and Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, to name just a few. Past iterations of Rising Stars have served as important episodes in the careers of pianists Khatia Buniatishvili and Igor Levit, cellists Harriet Krijgh and Kian Soltani, recorder player Lucie Horsch, Armida Quartett and Signum Saxophone Quartet. Müpa Budapest has been a member of ECHO since 2010 and a number of Hungarian musicians have participated in the series in recent years, including violinists Ádám Banda and Júlia Pusker, pianist János Balázs and trumpet player Tamás Pálfalvi.

Another thing that makes these Rising Stars concerts so special is the fact that the young artists and ensembles also play a contemporary work composed specifically for them that was commissioned by ECHO from a composer nominated either by the Rising Star or the delegating institution. This means that Müpa Budapest will be the site of Hungarian and even world premieres.

In the 2025 season, the audience will explore five distinct worlds. For Hungarian cimbalom player Áron Horváth, the Rising Stars tour is an opportunity to showcase his instrument’s versatility: alongside works by Bach and Kurtág, he will perform both his own compositions and contemporary jazz pieces with his fellow musicians, as well as a new, profoundly atmospheric composition by Charlotte Bray.
Nominated for the Rising Stars programme by: Müpa Budapest, Konzerthaus Wien

The Georgian pianist Giorgi Gigashvili will be presenting the hues of the romantic and impressionist repertoires while experimenting with contemporary works inspired by Georgian folk songs. Alongside pieces by Chopin, Lili Boulanger and Ravel, a new work by Natalie Beridze, a prominent figure on Georgia’s electronic music scene, will explore the fragile balance between rhythm and calm.
Nominated for the Rising Stars programme by: Konzerthaus Dortmund, Kölner Philharmonie, Philharmonie du Luxembourg, NOSPR Katowice

The young Italian musicians of Trio Concept have crafted their unique musical world through friendship and playful curiosity. Their programme centers on the energy of youth with performances of trios by Rachmaninoff and Mendelssohn, while a new work by Clemens K. Thomas reflects on the ambivalent nature of our digital culture in an ironic and thought-provoking way.
Nominated for the Rising Stars programme by: Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Palau de la Música Catalana

On her concert programme, the Austrian cellist Valerie Fritz pairs works by Bach and Eötvös with compositions by Gubaidulina, Majkusiak and her chamber music partner, the accordionist Goran Stevanovich. A new piece by Jennifer Walshe focusing on the theme of doubt will also enrich the evening with theatrical and performative elements.
Nominated for the Rising Stars programme by: Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, BOZAR – Centre for Fine Arts Brussels, Casa da Música Porto, Kölner Philharmonie, Konzerthaus Dortmund, Musikverein Wien

Finally, the Maat Saxophone Quartet’s exciting and genre-defying Blackbird programme explores the concept of freedom. Their repertoire extends from medieval composer Hildegard von Bingen to the former Beatle Paul McCartney and includes works by Lili Boulanger and Henriëtte Bosmans, while a new composition by Aleksandra Vrebalov will convey a sense of relentless energy and a powerfully relevant message.
Nominated for the Rising Stars programme by: Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Lisbon, Casa da Música Porto, Philharmonie de Paris