VIDEO, PHOTOS: Hungarian pianist sets new Guinness record by playing at 5,800 metres

Zoltán Thurzó, a world-renowned Hungarian pianist born and living in Nagyvárad, Romania, has set a new Guinness record in the Himalayas. He played nine classical pieces and the national anthems of four countries at almost 5,800 metres high under challenging conditions. However, he has even bigger ambitions ahead.

Military checkpoints, piano and an astonishing environment

Blikk, a Hungarian tabloid, interviewed Mr Thurzó by phone following his new Guinness record. Thurzó played the piano on the highest paved road in the world, located in the Himalayas, setting a new Guinness record. He explained that the Umling La Pass is on the border of India, Pakistan, Jammu, and South China. The route is difficult to traverse due to the many hairpin bends leading up from the Indus River valley.

Furthermore, given the military activity in the region, they had to cross numerous checkpoints, verify their identity and purpose, and explain why they were transporting a 325 kg piano. The rented instrument was transported from Mumbai to New Delhi, with the help of Dr Mariann Erdő, the Hungarian leader of the local Liszt Institute. We have previously written about the institute’s activities in THIS, THIS and THIS articles.

Interestingly, Mr Thurzó held the previous Guinness record, set in June 2022 on Mount Everest at a height of 5,325 metres and 77 centimetres, where a helicopter transported his instrument. This time, he went even higher.

New Guinness record at 5,800 metres

At nearly 5,800 metres, the oxygen level drops to 50%, Mr Thurzó told Blikk. The conditions were challenging despite the desert-like environment covered with ice crystals being astonishing. He said they started after daybreak and were fortunate as the snowfall stopped five minutes after their arrival and resumed only after the new Guinness record was set.