As part of Aljoša Jurinić’s masterclass, the Grand Concert took place on 27 August 2025 in the Stančić Hall of the Academy of Music in Zagreb, marking the sole Zagreb evening in the Concerts of Excellence series. The audience had a rare opportunity to experience three piano concertos by Mozart, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff, performed on two concert grand pianos. Beyond its repertoire, the evening was distinguished by the exceptional level of the masterclass participants from Croatia, Denmark, and Switzerland.
The concert opened with Sophus Elmark (2007), who performed the first movement of Mozart’s Sonata in C minor, KV 457 (“Molto allegro”) and Liszt’s Transcendental Etude, infusing the evening with virtuosity and energy.
He was followed by Josip Nikola Garić, a thirteen-year-old pianist of Croatian heritage residing in Switzerland, performing the first movement of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor. Aljoša Jurinić humorously introduced him as “a big Hajduk fan,” adding that for the young pianist, performing this concerto was “like Hajduk playing in the Champions League”.
Next came Emil Dalgaard (2008), who delivered a compelling rendition of the final two movements of Chopin’s Piano Sonata No. 2, including the famous Marche funèbre.
Marija Topić (2003) followed with the first and third movements of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 9 in A major, KV 41, displaying a refined sense of phrasing and musical maturity.
Emil Nabe then performed Chopin’s Nocturne in B major and the finale of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 31 No. 3, blending lyricism with strength.
The culmination of the evening was Mara Spiz, whose rendition of the second and third movements of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 demanded both technical precision and deep emotional expression—qualities that earned her heartfelt applause from the audience.
Announcing the Danish pianists with wit, Jurinić described them as “the best Danish pianists among their peers,” emphasizing that, as he put it, a successful musician must learn to handle expectations and pressure well. Their appearance concluded with an unexpected encore by Emil Dalgaard and Emil Nabe, much to the audience’s delight.
The Grand Concert reaffirmed the significance of Aljoša Jurinić’s masterclass in nurturing young talents, providing them a platform for growth through challenging performances and direct audience engagement. This year’s masterclass brought together nine young pianists from various European countries, all of whom demonstrated an impressive level of performance.
For readers who would like to learn more about the performers—including their biographies and personal reflections on the pieces they performed—visit: Grand Concert – piano marathon in the heart of Zagreb.
