AHungarian Folk Concert at Duna Palota
June 3rd 2008 09:11
Budapest is more than the beautiful blue Danube with its romantic garden island and its spectacular bridges. It is more than grand castles, fine buildings, impressive monuments and luxurious spas. It is also the epicentre of that rich and diverse Hungarian cultural heritage which draws on everything from Gypsy violins, accordions and folk dance, to the sophisticated orchestras and waltzes of the Hapsburg court. No visit to Budapest is complete without sampling something of that culture.
Had I not stumbled upon a sandwich board and a couple of persuasive young promoters one afternoon outside St Stephen’s Basilica I might well have missed the magnificent concert of the Hungarian Folk Ensemble, the Danube Folk Ensemble and the Rajko Folk Ensemble at Duna Palota. I would have been the poorer.
Formed in the 1950s and each consisting of thirty artists, the three groups are Hungary’s biggest, oldest and best. The performances of the Hungarian Folk Ensemble and the Danube Folk Ensemble consisted of authentic folk dances, many of which come from remote country villages and date back hundreds of years. The dancers themselves were fantastic and there was plenty of that spectacular high leaping, squatting and fleet footwork that we all love to see. Their costumes were a showcase of the Hungarian traditional taste for colour as well as that characteristic craftmanship with elaborate lace and embroidery. The Rajko Folk Ensemble’s string orchestra was truly magical with lightning violins speaking of the Magyars, the Mongols, the Turks, gypsy campfires and wild Hungarian horsemen on remote plains.
To see the performance at the lovely Duna Palota, or Danube Palace on Zrinyi Utca was an added bonus. The ornate neo-baroque palace was built in 1883 and reflects the opulence, extravagance and desire to impress of the Dual Monarchy era. Its murals, completed in 1895 by Lajos Mark, are stunning and it is worth visiting Duna Palota for these alone. In its former life the palace was the famous Casino of Lipotvaros.
It was a wonderful concert in every sense – brilliant colour, spectacular movement and amazing sound in a simply beautiful setting. It was also a unique insight into the music, dance and costume heritage of Hungary.
The Hungarian Folk Ensemble, the Danube Folk Ensemble and the Rajko Folk Ensemble perform regularlyin Hungary and abroad. Not to be missed!
Square in Budapest
Had I not stumbled upon a sandwich board and a couple of persuasive young promoters one afternoon outside St Stephen’s Basilica I might well have missed the magnificent concert of the Hungarian Folk Ensemble, the Danube Folk Ensemble and the Rajko Folk Ensemble at Duna Palota. I would have been the poorer.
Formed in the 1950s and each consisting of thirty artists, the three groups are Hungary’s biggest, oldest and best. The performances of the Hungarian Folk Ensemble and the Danube Folk Ensemble consisted of authentic folk dances, many of which come from remote country villages and date back hundreds of years. The dancers themselves were fantastic and there was plenty of that spectacular high leaping, squatting and fleet footwork that we all love to see. Their costumes were a showcase of the Hungarian traditional taste for colour as well as that characteristic craftmanship with elaborate lace and embroidery. The Rajko Folk Ensemble’s string orchestra was truly magical with lightning violins speaking of the Magyars, the Mongols, the Turks, gypsy campfires and wild Hungarian horsemen on remote plains.
To see the performance at the lovely Duna Palota, or Danube Palace on Zrinyi Utca was an added bonus. The ornate neo-baroque palace was built in 1883 and reflects the opulence, extravagance and desire to impress of the Dual Monarchy era. Its murals, completed in 1895 by Lajos Mark, are stunning and it is worth visiting Duna Palota for these alone. In its former life the palace was the famous Casino of Lipotvaros.
It was a wonderful concert in every sense – brilliant colour, spectacular movement and amazing sound in a simply beautiful setting. It was also a unique insight into the music, dance and costume heritage of Hungary.
The Hungarian Folk Ensemble, the Danube Folk Ensemble and the Rajko Folk Ensemble perform regularlyin Hungary and abroad. Not to be missed!
| 78 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
