Whoever wishes to gain an overview of the art of piano music should pay a visit to Lake Lucerne in November. LUCERNE FESTIVAL at the Piano annually brings together the outstanding representatives of the pianistic guild: legendary masters and promising young artists, philosophers at the keyboard and the celebrated virtuosos. The latter will be particularly in demand in 2011, since this year’s programming (21-27 November) will of course centre around the anniversary of Franz Liszt, the phenomenal pianist, innovative composer, and influential teacher whose 200th birthday will be celebrated. Not only will the “Transcendental Etudes,” the First Piano Concerto, and the famously fiendish “Totentanz” be performed, but also Liszt’s imaginative transcriptions and his “Years of Pilgrimage”—interpreted by a wide range of keyboard artists, from Yefim Bronfman and Andreas Haefliger to Lise de la Salle, and Alexei Volodin. Invitations have also extended to appear in recital to Marc-André Hamelin, Maurizio Pollini, and Yuja Wang. Hélène Grimaud will also appear as guest artist: Together with the Festival Strings Lucerne, she will perform piano concertos by Mozart. Additionally, the audience can, as always, enjoy the series of debut concerts, a night of contemporary music, and Piano Off-Stage, the “festival within the festival,” which will indulge the public into the wee hours with the finest jazz—which the brilliant improviser Liszt would have enjoyed.