Chicago celebrates the centenary of György Kurtág’s birth with a three-concert festival dedicated to his music. Taking place on 11, 18 and 20 October 2026, Kurtág@100 presents more than five hours of music, offering a wide-ranging exploration of the composer’s solo and chamber works. Under the artistic direction of violinist Dan Galat and soprano and composer Liza Sobel Crane, the festival brings together outstanding performers from Chicago and across the United States.

The festival showcased the remarkable variety of Kurtág’s music. Ranging from intimate miniatures to more expansive chamber works, the programmes featured unusual instrumental combinations alongside virtuosic instrumental and vocal pieces. The selection included compositions rarely performed in the United States and seldom heard together.
The opening concert on 11 October takes place at Constellation, an important Chicago venue for contemporary and experimental music. Its programme features pieces from Signs, Games and Messages for solo double bass, violin, viola and flute, alongside the Bagatelles for flute, double bass and piano, and two works for string quartet: Aus der Ferne III and Officium breve in memoriam Andreae Szervánszky.
The second concert, also at Constellation on 18 October , centres on a complete performance of Kafka Fragments, Op. 24, for soprano and violin, given by Liza Sobel Crane and Dan Galat. Shi-An Costello performs a selection of piano pieces from Játékok (Games). The programme also includes chamber works featuring brass instruments, among them Hommage à John Cage, Six Pieces for Trombone and Piano and In memoriam György Zilcz.
The closing concert on 20 October takes place at Experimental Sound Studio. Jonathan Hannau performs pieces from the first and tenth volumes of Játékok, while Zachary Good plays selections from Signs, Games and Messages for clarinet.
The festival is a collaboration between Bridgeport Music Collective, Constellation, Experimental Sound Studio, Frequency Series, Fulcrum Point New Music and New Music Chicago, with support from the Tulipán Foundation’s Cultural Connection Award and the Illinois Arts Council.
The concerts can also be watched live and replayed on YouTube.