PianOpera / Erika Miklósa & János Balázs Presented by Liszt Academy

Virtuosity: this is the common denominator for the two artists appearing on stage. Erika Miklósa has been a celebrity on the Hungarian opera and concert scene for some 25 years. She broke into the limelight with her superior interpretation of the particularly difficult coloratura-soprano role of the Queen of the Night, and then went on to storm the greatest opera stages of the world in the same part. Since then she has starred primarily in lyrical and dramatic coloratura roles; however, her brilliance has also been apparent whenever she has explored lighter musical fields far from the opera stage. Her partner in this recital, János Balázs, is known as a pianist for whom interpretation of virtuoso pieces is the natural form of instrumental self-expression: it is no coincidence that he looks up to György Cziffra as his role model. The two artists have found they are ideally suited to each other on stage, in the process providing huge entertainment for the audience, including within the framework of a more informal concert like that presented this evening.