Faruk Kalaycı’s Releases “Divine”, A Monumental Liszt Portrait, with KNS Classical

KNS Classical presents Divine, the recording by Turkish pianist Faruk Kalaycı, winner of the 2025 Montenegro International Piano Competition, dedicated to the visionary world of Franz Liszt and the Romantic imagination.

The album brings together Liszt’s powerful transcriptions of Schubert’s most dramatic and lyrical Lieder — Ständchen, Litanei, Gretchen am Spinnrade and Erlkönig — alongside the overwhelming intensity of Isoldens Liebestod from Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. The program culminates in Après une lecture du Dante – Fantasia quasi Sonata, Liszt’s monumental reflection on Dante’s Divine Comedy, a work of striking contrasts and spiritual ascent.

Born in Istanbul in 2000, Kalaycı has performed major concertos from a young age and earned recognition in international competitions, most recently receiving top prizes in Montenegro and Fujairah in 2025. He is currently pursuing his Master’s degree at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory under Professor Ruvim Ostrovskiy.

With Divine, Faruk Kalaycı explores the piano as a dramatic and orchestral voice, revealing the grandeur and emotional depth at the heart of Liszt’s art.

You can now listen to this exceptional recording on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and YouTube.

CD Page: Divine
Artist Profile: Faruk Kalaycı