Back to the main page of the Budapest Summer >>>>>
| Summer Concerts in Vajdahunyadvár | Musical Nights at the Zoo | |
| BudaFest - Hungarian State Opera House | BudaFest - Hilton Dominican Court | Dance in the Carmelite Courtyard |
Musical Zoo Nights
The musical nights are held at two locations: the main venue is adjacent to the Palm House, where the lake and the brightly lit monument create a special atmosphere. Sometimes the concerts are organised in the Japanese Garden, and this traditional location also contributes to the unique atmosphere of the evening. Before the performances, our guests can already enter the garden after 7 p.m., where they can enjoy the beautiful sunset at the lakeshore or they can visit the Aquarium and the Palm House. In the Barlang Restaurant you can also have a pleasant candle-lit dinner under the old sycamores. The terrace of the Palm House Pastry Shop, which has a wonderful panorama on the lake, is also open. In the summer everybody will be able to choose a concert according to their preferred music style. Our concert series will above all include performances of the most prominent jazz, dixieland and klezmer artists.
|
MÁV Symphony Orchestra Strauss Night Wednesday, 30 June 2010 (rain check day: 2 July) |
The 65-year-old MÁV Symphony Orchestra is the most popular and most cutting-edge professional big orchestra in Hungary. Their repertoire ranges from baroque music to modern contemporary pieces. Strauss Night is one of their most popular performances. Many composers, violin virtuosos and conductors were born into the famous Strauss family. In their works they refined the rich melodies and rhythm of Austrian folk dance culture, elevating the waltz genre to the highest level. |
 |
|
Bori Rutkai founded her first band as a student at the University of Art and Design. Since then she has performed in various groups. Her lyrics, which have a wise humour and can be related to her paintings, have immediately found a way to her audience's hearts. Her performances are characterised by creative stage solutions and witty remarks. The musical atmosphere and sound of the joint performance with the band Specko Jedno is determined by a melancholic and romantic style. The name of the band originates from the Slavic expression “sedcko jedno”, which can be translated as “whatever”. Their new album is called "Whatevergreens". |
Bori Rutkai and the Specko Jedno Whatevergreens Wednesday, 7 July 2010 (rain check day: 8 July) |
 |
|
Benkó Dixieland Band Wednesday, 14 July 2010 (rain check day: 15 July) |
The band members are the kings of Dixieland music, which is very popular all over the country. The world-famous band, which is more than 50 years old, can boast more than 9,000 concerts, 64 albums and 33 awards. As an acknowledgement of his merits, Sándor Benkó, the leader of the band, was awarded the Kossuth Price in 2006, which is the most prestigious artistic award in Hungary. Benkó Dixieland Band is not only popular in Hungary and all over Europe, but also in the United States, especially in New Orleans. |
 |
|
Márta Sebestyén has been living in the enchanting world of music since her birth, and her talent was spotted early, when she was only a little child. Nowadays she is a world-famous artist, who performs in the most prestigious concert halls. She has received all the possible awards that an artist can win in Hungary, among others the most important artistic acknowledgement, the Kossuth Price in 1999. During the performance, Márta Sebestyén’s wonderful voice will be supported by the amazing and natural tone of Judit Andrejszki, a famous baroque singer, as well as colourful and diverse instrumental music by Balázs Szokolay Dongó and Mátyás Bolya. The result of the collaboration is a colourful performance, in which renaissance and folk music meet. |
Márta Sebestyén's performance Wednesday, 21 July 2010 (rain check day: 22 July)
|
 |
|
Bolyki Brothers a cappela Wednesday, 28 July 2010 (rain check day: 29 July)
|
The Bolyki Brothers is the most famous a capella act in Hungary. Today the twenty-year old band is internationally well-known. They regularly perform in jazz, a cappella and gospel festivals all over Europe, and they can boast many prestigious awards and other recognitions. In the last few years they have even conquered America and China. Due to their education in classical music, the genre which they represent, and which was defined as a separate genre by an international jury, has been constantly kept up-to-date. |
 |
|
The band, which celebrates its 25th anniversary, became one of Hungary’s most successful professional music bands in a few years after its foundation. The band’s virtuoso members endeavour to be as faithful to the music style as possible, for example by displaying a charming singing manner. The successful group has won four national and four international awards in five years. Their performance features the singer Éva Bolba. |
25 years of the Hot Jazz Band Wednesday, 4 August 2010 (rain check day: 5 August)
|
 |
|
Bea Palya and Balázs Szokolay Dongó duo Wednesday, 11 August 2010 (rain check day: 12 August)
|
Nowadays, Bea Palya is one of the most versatile young singers. She is interested in Hungarian, Gypsy, Bulgarian and Indian folk music, and she is featuring in world music, jazz and sung poetry performances as well. Change is a very important feature in her art: traditional motifs are still dominant in her music, but she also reveals a personal and surprisingly intimate world in her own lyrics during concerts. The young artist has been acknowledged with several awards so far. |  |
| The performances of the twenty-year old band offer a special experience for lovers of traditional Jewish music. The band plays adaptations, which are composed by Ferenc Jávori, the founder and leader of the band, who was born in Munkács. These melodies originate from the areas of Central Europe where Jewish music culture used to bloom. The band can boast international success as well: they have taken part in several European and American tours. As an acknowledgement of their artistic activities and tradition preserving roles, they have received numerous awards and recognitions. |
The Budapest Klezmer Band is twenty years old Wednesday, 18 August 2010 (rain check day: 19 August)
|
 |
The entrance ticket to the concerts is HUF 2,900.
Budapest Zoo
Address: Budapest, Állatkerti krt. 6-12.
Tel.: + 36 1 273 49 01
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ticket purchase:
Tel.: + 36 1 273 49 01
Or in person in BTO’s Tourist Information Offices in the city centre.
 |
Tourinform Deák square Address: Sütő utca 2. (at Deák square) Opening hours: 8 am - 8 pm every day Tel: +36 1 438 80 80 |
Tourinform Liszt Ferenc square Address: Andrássy út 47. (at Oktogon) Opening hours: 12 am – 8 pm every day Tel: +36 1 322 40 98 |
SECRET TIPS before and after a concert:
Date in the City Park
City Park in a nutshell:
The City Park (Városliget) is the largest green area on the Pest side. It is a popular place for family excursions and for entertaining or relaxing during the weekend. During the Millennium festival in the 19th century, buildings such as the Museum of Fine Arts, the Art Hall, the Millennium Memorial and Vajdahunyad Castle were erected here. The Zoo, the Amusement Park, the Circus, the Széchenyi Baths, the Museum of Transportation and Petőfi Csarnok, the popular place among young people for partying, can also be found nearby. You can go boating on the lake in the summer, or go ice-skating in the winter. You can also walk or ride a bike in the shadows of the park’s trees.
In the Zoo 
You can have a pleasant walk along the lake shore near the Palm House or in the Hedge Labyrinth or you can enjoy the excellent gastronomy culture of Barlang Restaurant or the elegant confectionary of the Palm House.
In Vajdahunyadvár
The candle-lit Mediaeval Cloister in Vajdahunyadvár, which has a special atmosphere at nights, will be open during the concerts. If you bring in your own chair you can also listen to the evening concert from here, because the Cloister’s acoustics are excellent.
Other tips for the City Park
You can really experience a romantic adventure on this day! Do not just concentrate on the evening event. Before the concert, surprise yourself with a thermal bath experience. The Széchenyi Baths await you with longer opening hours in the summer. (www.budapestspas.com) After that feel free to choose comfortable clothes for the summer night concerts!
If you are starving for cultural adventures, City Park is the ideal place for you. Before the concert, visiting the Kincsem memorial exhibition in the Agricultural Museum seems to be an excellent programme. There you can gain insight into the famous golden era of Hungarian horse-racing.
Sometimes a little is a lot – think about it! After the concert you can regain your energy by walking under the City Park's trees at night, having an intimate conversation with someone or just enjoying the silence of nature.
And if you need to forget the troubles of weekdays a bit, make the experience complete! Nothing is more pleasant than a relaxed dinner after the concert! The City Park can boast magnificent restaurants, where you can have an alfresco dinner with your partner in an intimate garden.
www.bagolyvar.hu
www.gundel.hu
www.robinson.hu
www.szechenyietterem.hu
Personal Experience
"I like the gardens of the coffees all around in the city centre. Just to sit about on a bench at the Szabadság square or in the City Park right at Heroes' square."
Tip: After visiting the great statues of Heroes' square, go for a nice walk and have a cool drink in the City Park.
Back to the main page of the Budapest Summer >>>>>
2009 © Tourism Office of Budapest. All rights reserved.