The event, the Jozsef Szigeti International Violin and Viola Competition, is named after the Hungarian violin virtuoso who died in 1973. Szigeti was known for his unprecedented elegance and technical perfection in the performance of solo masterpieces and chamber music literature.

With a first prize of 8,000 euros (10,105 U.S. dollars), the event runs until Sept. 15 with 88 competitors from 24 countries.

Twenty-two competitors come from Hungary and the rest are from France, Japan and China, among others. Five musicians from China are vying in the competition.

Both the violin and viola competition sections comprise preliminaries, a semi-final and final during which the competitors must perform in front of a 9-person international jury playing pieces of composers including J. S. Bach, Bela Bartok, Niccolo Paganini and other masters who wrote pieces for violin and viola.

The climax of the competition will be a gala and award-presenting ceremony in Budapest's Palace of Arts.