A new international composition competition will begin this year, on the initiative of the Greek Composers’ Union and with the support of the Greek National Opera: the Re:Trace competition, each edition of which will spotlight a prominent figure from the international musical creation scene. In 2026, the music world celebrates the 100th anniversary of the emblematic composer György Kurtág, an artist who has redefined musical expression through the groundbreaking economy and power of silence. On this occasion, the competition’s inaugural edition is dedicated to the composer, focusing on the fundamental qualities of his aesthetic: the beauty of fragments, the intensity of momentary gestures, and the view of music as a relic of memory.

The final concert featuring the award-winning works, as well as the award ceremony, will be held at the GNO Alternative Stage. The programme will include works by the competition’s six finalists, performed by the newly-formed ensemble of the Greek Composers’ Union, EnA – Enosis Atelier, under the baton of conductor Maria Bazou.