Piano Duel: Liszt vs Thalberg with Asiya Korepanova and Special Guest
Vashon Center for the Arts
Friday, October 2 | 7:30pm
$50 Premium | $45 General | Youth Free *ticket reservation required
Piano Duel: Liszt vs Thalberg

A recreation of a historic 1837 battle of the two piano titans

Asiya Korepanova as Liszt with a special secret guest as Thalberg

The 1837 Liszt-Thalberg rivalry was the most legendary piano duel in music history, pitting the fiery, theatrical showmanship of Franz Liszt against the elegant, subtle "three-hand" technique of Sigismond Thalberg.

They performed their blazing concert fantasies and paraphrases on operatic themes against each other at a competition hosted at the Paris salon of Princess Cristina Belgiojoso as a benefit concert for Italian refugees.

The glittering assembly of critics and nobles refused to declare a definitive loser. Princess Belgiojoso diplomatically announced, "Thalberg is the first pianist in the world—Liszt is unique."