DOT-DOT-LINE. — Watch the Solti Competition Live

Judit Varga’s new orchestral work DOT‑DOT‑LINE. was commissioned by Müpa Budapest for the 2026 Solti International Conducting Competition. Written in 2026 and lasting approximately seven minutes, it is one of the two contemporary works in the semifinal repertoire, alongside the first movement of Levente Gyöngyösi’s Symphony No. 5. The contemporary work each conductor performs is assigned by draw.

Ten semifinalists will work with the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in the Grand Hall of the Liszt Academy in Budapest. Each programme combines Mozart and Puccini arias with a contemporary orchestral work, bringing new music into the heart of the competition.

Watch from around the world: both semifinal rounds will be streamed through Müpa Home. Semifinal 1 takes place on Monday, 5 October 2026, in two sessions: 16:00–18:40 and 19:45–21:30. Semifinal 2 is on Tuesday, 6 October: 16:00–18:40 and 19:45–23:00, with the results announcement included in the evening programme. All times are Budapest local time, CEST (UTC+2).

Use the Müpa Home link below to find the live broadcasts, and the official event pages for the programme and any scheduling updates. The competition continues with its final on 9 October and gala concert on 10 October; those later events are also announced on medici.tv and Bartók Radio.

Update, 4 October: Papageno has announced the ten conductors selected for the semifinals. In Budapest they will conduct the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and vocal soloists; the programmes include DOT‑DOT‑LINE. and the first movement of Levente Gyöngyösi’s Fifth Symphony. Read the new report below.