At this edition of the Organ Duel, a series which has enjoyed popularity with audiences for some years now, young representatives of the two strongest European national organ traditions pit their skills against each other. Naturally no winner will be declared, since it is obvious that the true winner will be the audience. It nevertheless promises to be an exciting evening, as the details of the tasks the participating artists face will only be fully revealed at the concert itself. The hosts, a Mari Jászai Prize-winning actress and a Liszt and Prima Prize-winning organist, will ensure the evening takes place in a relaxed atmosphere, introducing the performing artists and helping the audience to appreciate the works featured on the programme.
Born in 1990, Thomas Ospital studied at the Conservatoire de Paris, in the class of Notre-Dame organist Olivier Latry, among others. Thierry Escaich and László Fassang were among those who initiated him into the secrets of improvisation, which now plays an important part in his activity as a musician. Some three years older, Sebastian Küchler-Blessing studied at the music academies of Trossingen, Karlsruhe and Freiburg. In 2011, he won first prize in one of the world’s most prestigious organ competitions at Nuremburg Organ Week, and the following year won the Mendelssohn Prize, the oldest prize in German classical music. At the age of 26, he was appointed organist of Essen Cathedral, the youngest to receive such an appointment in his country.

Presented by: Müpa Budapest