Concert, music

It is always a thrill to reflect on the fact that, even though the vast majority of Richard Wagner's oeuvre consists of his operas and music dramas, and the singers who perform in them on the world's top stages are exceptional artists, the most popular parts of these works, which can also be played independently, are the orchestral sequences.

A Beautiful Confusion ZÓRA váratlan, de intenzív feltűnésének címe is lehetne akár. A kaliforniai születésű és részben ma is Amerikában élő Urbányi Zóra 2021-ben élénk visszhangot váltott ki Kollár-Klemencz László Iszom a bort című dalának feldolgozásával, ami után egymást követték saját szerzeményei.

The Hungarian State Folk Ensemble's nativity programme counts down to the night of the birth of Jesus, with scenes that are sometimes comic and other times heart-warming.

There can hardly be imagined in our time a work that conveys a more important message to humanity, as it debates the possible fate of the earth, about threats to the natural environment than Götterdämmerung does. Perhaps there is still time for us to return the ring to the Rhinemaidens.

Dávid Lamm has been on the lam. Which should come as no surprise. Who hasn't been affected by the 2020s and the dispiriting multitude of global catastrophes? A musician, at least, can find refuge in the world of sound. Lamm duly created a new project by the name of Skidaddle.

Virtuosos is a unique talent show and talent management program that has been operating with unbroken success for ten years. It is now an internationally recognized television program that discovers and supports young classical musicians. Part of this mission is to provide opportunities for young people to perform in the most important concert halls. On this occasion, mentors and jury members from the Virtuosos will be on stage together with the young musicians.

The world-famous Dutch harpsichordist, organist and conductor Ton Koopman, one of the most significant representatives of the international practice of the historically informed performance of early music, turns 80 this October.

Behind the ‘pop music in a time machine' concept are arrangements of familiar contemporary pop hits and golden-oldies that are swinged-, jazzed- and doo-wopped-up before being planted in Motown-sounding soul. This simple but wonderful idea is one that works perfectly.

Honeybeast, who explore the boundaries of funk and funky pop and rock have enjoyed countless albums and hits. The 2014 track A legnagyobb hős (The Greatest Hero) was a particularly highlight, racking up 24 (!) million views.

Az évad művésze, Snétberger Ferenc koncertsorozatának első estjére vadonatúj mű ősbemutatójával készül. Movements című háromtételes darabjában zeneszerzőként és virtuóz szólistaként is remekel.

One of the most celebrated organists of our time, Latvia's Iveta Apkalna trained in England and Germany after studying in her homeland, and today her playing captivates audiences all over the world. As far as Gábor Boldoczki is concerned, it is sufficient to say that he is one of the top trumpet players on the planet: a universal artist.

The Amorf Ördögök began life as a high school band, before becoming one of the definitive groups of 21st century Hungarian pop music. The title of this concert - Minibár és a Celluxbetyár (Minibar and the Sellotape Bandit) - references the band's three album releases.

A magical meeting of two anniversaries on the Müpa Budapest stage: the Talamba Percussion Group is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with a 21st-century arrangement of a piano cycle by Mussorgsky's piano cycle Pictures of an Exhibition as it turns 150 itself: following on the heels of Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Isao Tomita with their versions, they are presenting their own take on the 19th-century masterpiece, this one revised for percussion and electronica, and featuring DJ Bootsie.

For her My Silks series, Palya invites female performers and singer-songwriters who are important and inspirational to her and introduces them to the Hungarian audience.

Age: 0-3 year

Imre Kőszegi's timing remains impeccable. In December, he will turn 80. And, of course, his bandmates can always count on his flawless rhythm. The second president of the Hungarian Jazz Federation is an irrepressibly energetic musician.

Taking the stage at Müpa Budapest on this evening will be the creative spirit Philippe Herreweghe joined by the world-famous workshops he founded: the Collegium Vocale Gent and the Orchestre des Champs-Elysées.

The aptly named Angelica Girls' Choir, who are led by Zsuzsanna Gráf, and help nurture the legacy of Kodály and Bartók, have captivated Müpa Budapest audiences on several occasions.

You never forget your first time. Chris Botti is making his first appearance at Müpa Budapest and he has big things in store. Released in October 2023, Vol. 1 is not only Botti's first album for more than a decade, it is also the trumpet player's debut record on the legendary Blue Note label.

Dee Dee Bridgewater's career is now in its sixth decade, and while she says she's put in a lot of work to find herself, there's no doubt that the jazz world sees her as an institution.

The world-famous Danish baritone Bo Skovhus probably secured his place in the hearts of the Müpa Budapest audience forever when, in a 2013 production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, he was forced to take the stage while suffering from a painful knee problem, yet still managed to incorporate his resulting compromised ability to walk into his unforgettable portrayal.

Bachtrack praised the Luxembourgish cellist Benjamin Kruithof, winner of the 2022 Enescu Competition, for his "noble, singing, beautiful” playing. Although it would be impossible to list his previous accolades here, just as one example: his first CD was nominated for the prestigious OPUS KLASSIK 2022 award in four categories.

The world-famous Latvian mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča is one of the most sought-after opera singers of our time. Her vocal and acting abilities are celebrated by audiences all over the world, from Salzburg and Vienna to Paris and New York.

Everyone is welcome to come in colourful clothes, the programme is a mere 50 minutes in length (without an interval), and the audience sits in close proximity to the organist. Performing the May programme, the fourth instalment of the series, will be Péter Mekis, a representative of the younger generation.

The Jazz Spring festival has always endeavoured to present the most promising female performers from the international jazz scene, regardless of whether the artists are singers, instrumentalists or both at the same time.

The overture to Berlioz's late opera Béatrice et Bénédict is an exciting and dynamic piece of music. Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto is one of the most popular works of the 19th century: virtuosic and intimate at the same time.

The Vujicsics Ensemble, which plays South-Slavic music, has maintained the same line-up ever since their formation 50 years ago.

Ádám Fischer's career as a conductor, which began more than half a century ago, is linked to his homeland in many ways: the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Hungarian State Opera, Müpa Budapest and the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra are all important chapters in his work.

A fiatal amerikai orgonaművész, Bryan Anderson a Pennsylvania Államban megrendezett 2023-as Longwood Gardens Nemzetközi Orgonaverseny nagydíjasa. „Briliáns” és „első osztályú” - így méltatta játékát a kritika.

Age: 1,5-3 year

The door to Moroccan trance music opens this May evening when one of the youngest female ambassadors of Gnawa culture, Asmâa Hamzaoui, and her own line-up, the Bnat Timbouktou trio, and the the Hungary-based band Tariqa, led by Central and Eastern European region's best-known Gnawa musician, the Moroccan-born Saïd Tichiti, give a joint concert.

This two-part concert will present the finest and most diverse aspects of the Belgian jazz scene. The Brussels Jazz Orchestra, Belgian's leading big band, will be uniting its powers with the superb saxophonist Philip Catherine, outstanding guitarist Bert Joris and the distinctive singer David Linx to wow the audience as they perform a programme compiled especially for the Bridging Europe festival.

French music - just like French cuisine - is known for its refinement, its perfect harmony of flavours and colours, and the attention to details. A true gourmet's delight.

Program:
Works by Beethoven, Scarlatti and Shostakovich

It was in 1982 that the experimentally minded American director Godfrey Reggio created his film Koyaanisqatsi, which went on to gain cult status among audiences receptive to new concepts.