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.

The Choir of St John's College, Cambridge is an old acquaintance of ours, having already given two acclaimed Christmas concerts here at Müpa Budapest.

Age: 0-3 year

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.

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.

Age: 1,5-3 year

In almost every biography of the group's career, you can read that Quincy Jones has called them the "the baddest vocal cats on the planet”. This opinion would probably be shared by Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald and Whitney Houston, all of whom worked alongside Take 6.

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.

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

Tamás Molnár returns to the stage of the Festival Theatre with intimate acoustic songs, hits evoking a true festival atmosphere, cinematic musical techniques and an amazing stage show.

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.

A rainbow of sounds from the orchestra, enigmatic dialogues and mysterious riddles. Not to mention a treacherous dwarf and a glorious young hero. Who after slaying a dragon and tasting its blood, is able to understand the prophetic singing of a bird. And then crosses through a wall of fire to discover both the woman who is his mate and, through his love for her, fear.

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.

Sena Dagadu has been a key figure on the Hungarian pop scene for the best part of 20 years. Though the Hungarian-Ghanian singer has achieved her greatest success as a front person for Irie Maffia, she has also enjoyed a significant solo career.

Program:
Works by Beethoven, Scarlatti and Shostakovich

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.

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 Piano - Jakobi Concerts

Does the muse of inspiration matter? And what is a muse, exactly? What is the origin of music, lyrics and everything else that isn't created out of common sense, yet without which life would have no meaning?

Balázs János zongoraestje – „Polonéz és rapszódiák”

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.

The duo of singer and guitarist Soma Nóvé, well-known in Hungary from the bands Middlemist Red and Mordái, and Dániel Riederauer, an electronics and bass guitar player, first performed as Samurai Drive in 2019.

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.

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.

On this November evening, the guitarist Mike Gotthard, who is equally receptive to the music of jazz, blues, rock and funk, will invite the audience into his own jazz-rock world where the instruments and melodies take centre stage.

In each of their creative musical statements, the female performers who formed the group in Bamako ten years ago have spoken out for women's rights and the eradication of violence. Their rich, melodic music combines stylistic elements of pan-African traditions and contemporary pop songs.

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.

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.

Having only recently left behind winning prizes at prestigious competitions, Carlos Ferreira is already serving as the first clarinettist of the Orchestre National de France and plays chamber music with such partners as Emmanuel Pahud and Hilary Hahn.

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.

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.

After the success of Koyaanisqatsi, the American director Godfrey Reggio set out on the task of creating the rest of the Qatsi Trilogy.

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.

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.