JEWISH SUMMER FESTIVAL 2013
Budapest Klezmer Band
Dohány Street Synagogue
August 25, 2013 7:00 pm.
The performance of one of the most popular klezmer bands in Europe is a celebrated
tradition of the Jewish Summer Festival.
The name of the Budapest Klezmer Band has always been associated with the Jewish
Summer Festival as the career of the internationally recognized klezmer band started
with the first Jewish Festival in 1989.
Many would say that klezmer music serves as a bridge between cultures, connecting
Jewish and non-Jewish alike.
The Budapest Klezmer Band successfully combines klezmer music with classical
music, creating a unique, characteristic crossover between styles.
The Budapest Klezmer Band is going to hold the premiere of Hasene (wedding) at
the opening day of this year's festival and they are going to show the audience the
Jewish Odessa of the 1910's and 1920's. The songs and jokes present us with the
colors and richness of Jewish life, mostly characterizing the beginning of the 20th
century in Odessa, intertwined with the short stories of the Russian writer, Isaak
Babel. The special guest of the event is Tamás Dunai actor.
Budapest Ragtime Band
August 25, 2013, 7:30 p.m.
Budapest Music Centre
Guest: Nikoletta Szőke (vocals) and Ferenc Kovács (trumpet, vocals, violin)
In addition to nurturing the traditions of ragtime music, the band aims to introduce
and a multitude of traditional American music genres. Ragtime was a very popular
genre at the turn of the century. Scott Joplin and the other outstanding composers
originally wrote their ragtime for piano.
The band’s members re-instrumented this ragtime for a band of 8-10 members.
For this, they had highly qualified musicians and an abundance of instruments, which
enabled them to produce exceptional instrumentation setups. The band later added
swing-melodies, Dixieland-evergreens and virtuoso instrument solos to its program,
amongst them the very unique and popular Spike Jones re-make of the 1940s. The
band constantly freshens up its repertoire with musical gags and extraordinary
instrumentation.
The Budapest Ragtime Band performs on this year’s Jewish Summer Festival with
two outstanding musicians who further enrich the diversity of the already
outstanding concert program with gags, improvisations and the melodies of Jewish
music.
http://zsidonyarifesztival.hu/?lang=en
https://www.facebook.com/zsnyf?fref=ts
Molnár Dixieland Band
Buy tickets August 27, 2013. 7:30 p.m.
Uránia National Movie Theatre
Guest: Tamás Berki
Dixieland was the first form of Jazz in the United States in the 1910s and 1920s
which gave a huge boost to African-Americans in their battle for equality.
Dixieland, often enriched with national characters, spread throughout the entire
world and victoriously propagated the notion of freedom and equality. In contrast to
the discipline of strictly written music, a strongly improvisational, true tone of
rejoicing was born, bearing the message of freedom, strength and the unconditional
acceptance of life.
The ambassador of this message is the Molnár Dixieland Band, with 49 successful
years of performance, a well-known band from Szeged. The band has performed
constantly since its foundation both in Hungary and abroad – in the first years (1972)
under the stage name of SZEGED OLDTIMERS. Their first international performance
was in the Czechoslovakian city of Prerov, where they were awarded the “Europe
Classic” Prize.
In the following years they consecutively performed in all Eastern-European
countries, including a Soviet tour. The band, nonetheless, also guest performed in
Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Norway, Sweden, The CanaryIslands and in the United States.
The band has represented Hungary over 50 times at Jazz festivals abroad. They
performed with world-renown soloists such as Fatty George (Austria), Eddy Davis,
Tony Scott, Joe Muranyi (USA), John Mortimer, Ian Wheeler (England), Marcel Zanini
(France) and Theis Jensen (Denmark).
During this year’s Jewish Summer Festival Tamás Berki, a highly qualified singer on
an international level will perform as their guest, who, after Louis Armstrong and Ella
Fitzgerald, is an outstanding skat performer as well (a rhythmical, improvisational
song without comprehensible text).
The band and Tamás Berki have known each other well for years; their friendship
becomes strongly visible in this coproduction, thus ensuring a unique musical
experience for the audience.
http://zsidonyarifesztival.hu/?lang=en
https://www.facebook.com/zsnyf?fref=ts
PÁR-BESZÉD (DIALOGUE)
Uránia National Movie Theatre
August 28, 2013, 7.30 p.m.
Performers:
László Dés, saxophone
András Dés, percussion
Lajos Parti Nagy, writer
György Spiró, writer
“I believe that this evening will be a great celebration, with lots of drama, humour
and music. A cultural event such as this has an extraordinary significance in today’s
world, as, beyond the fact that people of large format perform their pieces of art, in
contrast to literary eves, here the writers read out aloud works which reverberate our
present age or moment in which we all live. This present tense promises an
exceptional performance. The dialogue of text and music, and the musicians’
reactions raise and strengthen this experience.” László Dés summarized the essence
of the program at the series “Szó és Zene (Word and Music)”, the continuation of
which is this year’s DIALOGUE at the Jewish Summer Festival.
During this year’s event, the four well-known artists will depict our present times,
while fiction and improvisation guarantee an unforgettable experience to the visitors
of the Jewish Summer Festival.
Karinthy - Kézdy Memorial Evening
Goldmark Hall
August 27, 2013
Director: Rémusz Szikszai
Performers:
Actors Kriszta Bíró, Tamás Fodor, Géza Hegedűs D., József Székhelyi
Karinthy, the great entertainer, was a typical humanist: he believed in people, in
science, in culture and was embittered by inhumanity.
His grandson, Márton Karinthy once commented on the poet, writer and philosopher:
“We always speak about his humour, and this is important. Much more important
than this however were his serious concerns regarding Hungarians, humanity and its
endurance. He writes that we must not leave the world behind as we found it,
meaning that some traces need to be left, proving that we were here. Karinthy was
the child of the progressive age who protected and built European culture, and
feared of the deterioration and decay of the human essence.”
Lucky are those who could see György Kézdy actor’s solo performance evenings: the
Karinthy eve bearing the title “Ki kérdezett? (Who asked you?)” from the years of
Pécs, or the “Ákombákom (stick figure sketch)” performance, put together from the
works of Zoltán Zelk, Ottó Orbán, Ervin Lázár and Frigyes Karinthy, had a very
special meaning for the actor’s career: after the years of slight and difficulties, he
found his voice in these performances which proved to be extraordinary successful.
Friends of György Kézdy and the admirers of Frigyes Karinthy will honour the actor’s
memory in this special event, who died this year on August 8, and the author he
loved so much, who died 75 years ago, on August 29, 1938.
http://zsidonyarifesztival.hu/?lang=en
https://www.facebook.com/zsnyf?fref=ts
WORDS AND SAXOPOHONE
Péter Esterházy and László Dés’ evening
Goldmark Hall
August 29, 2013, 7.30 p.m.
Author Péter Esterházy and musician László Dés will present a unique performance at
the Jewish Summer Festival. It is not the first time that these two outstanding
personalities go onstage together – their friendship is an old one. The genre is not
specified, the text read out aloud can be part of a novel, a short story or even a
poem, but all the stories shows the fight against segregation, the need for tolerance
and the acceptance of human diversity. During the readings, at specific
dramaturgical moments we’ll hear music, accentuating, underlining, or even
counterpointing the text.
Hungarian author Péter Esterházy, Kossuth Prize laureate, publicist
A significant member of the writer’s generation starting in the 1970s, he was born in
Budapest on April 14, 1950. He finished his secondary school studies at the Piarist
High School, Budapest, in 1968. In 1974 he obtained his degree in mathematics from
the Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest and has been a freelancing writer ever
since. In 1993 he became member of the Széchenyi Academy of Literature and Arts.
Hundreds of studies and critics have appeared in Hungary regarding his works and
the writer was awarded a number of prestigious prizes in literature both in his
homeland and abroad. His novels and essays were translated into more than 20
languages around the world.
László Dés saxophone artist, composer, who was awarded both the Ferenc Liszt and
the Kossuth Prizes, was born on January 9, 1954. He graduated in 1973 from the
Béla Bartók Conservatory of Music, Faculty for clarinet, and three years later from
the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music, Jazz Faculty and Department for Saxophone. He
performed in a number of popular jazz formations (Dimenzió Band, Budapest Big
Band, Trio Stendhal, Jazz+Az, Dés Septet), but his solo career is also remarkable. His
play, his compositions can be heard on over forty albums plus on a number of other
performers’ collections. His musicals (Somewhere in Europe, the Book of the Jungle)
have been played in Hungarian theatres with great success, and his film scores are
amongst the most successful Hungarian evergreens.
http://zsidonyarifesztival.hu/?lang=en
https://www.facebook.com/zsnyf?fref=ts
Bea Palya – “A legszebb te vagy (Bei mir bist du shein)” (You are the most
beautiful one)
Uránia National Film Theatre
August 26, 2013, 7.30 p.m.
“And the last one together – this is how I said farewell to the audience of the last
year’s festival.
Now I come in a different manner, namely as a mother, since I’ve met the most
beautiful thing in the world: my daughter. And together with her I experience all the
magic, questions, fragility and happiness of motherhood. I’ve calmed down a bit, my
look and my embrace have become softer, as I have finished the most important
task I assumed: giving birth to a new life. My passion for writing songs, however,
hasn’t left me for a single moment, even during delivery I was listening to my own
voice. I am singing constantly when nursing Lili, I am lulling her to sleep and giving
life with songs, I continue to tirelessly and tenaciously sacrifice on the altar of music.
I put into music the new chapters of the feminine growth and the festival’s guests
will be one of my first test audiences. What kind of woman, what kind of lover is the
person who is also a mother? What is true female friendship like? What is it like
when there is only instinct and body, when we give in to our most basic instincts?
And why the raising of a child is the true rock ‘n’ roll? What is the intimate fusion
like, only possible between mother and child? This and similar topics will arise, and
naturally a number of old loves, Yiddish, Spanish and French songs.
The new songs are coming with new musicians. I am grateful to them, just as to the
audience, for accompanying me on this new road.” Bea Palya.
Félix Lajkó and his band
Dohány Street Synagogue
August 29, 2013 7:00 pm.
Guest: Roby Lakatos, violinist
The two virtuoso violinists, Félix Lajkó and Roby Lakatos gave a very successful
concert together in Budapest in January 2013. They both have been called “violinists
of the devil” before as their unique technique, virtuosity, style of play and
improvisations have brought them fame all around the world. Their music is a solid
proof of the permeability of styles and their improvisations are in many respects
master classes in their astounding understanding of the violin.
At the Jewish Summer Festival the audience will have the opportunity to listen to
unique versions of Hungarian, Gypsy and Jewish folk songs. A unique, one-time jam
session, an abundance of improvisations inspired by the building and the atmosphere
of the Synagogue.
Félix Lajkó has been charming audiences in European, American, Japanese, Indian
and Chinese cities. He is a returning guest of the stage of the Théâtre de la Ville, he
and his band performed at the Wuppertal Festival of Pina Bausch, he played in the
garden of the Palais des Papes within the framework of the Avignon Festival and at
several other locations.
http://zsidonyarifesztival.hu/?lang=en
https://www.facebook.com/zsnyf?fref=ts
Roby Lakatos appeared on the stage as a six year old child using the violin of the
famous artist at the Pista Dankó memorial concert and was critically acclaimed. At
the age of 18 Roby Lakatos already played in Brussels. The restaurant in Brussels,
where Yehudi Menuhin and Stephane Grapelli first heard him play could almost be
considered his own club. Menuhin started to support the young violinist and helped
him as a friend and as his mentor with his professional career. Roby Lakatos has
played together with artists like Vadim Repin, Randy Brecker, Giora Feidman, Herbie
Hancock and Maxim Vengerov.
Asamblea Mediterranea
Uránia National Film Theatre
August 29, 2013 8.30 pm.
The Music of the Sephardim and Ashkenazim
Vendég: Gerendás Péter, Somló Tamás
Asamblea Mediterranea (Mediterranean assembly) is one of the few ensembles that
has dedicated itself to the music of the Sephardim. The name “Sephardim” derives
from the Hebrew word “Sepharad” which means Spain. The Sephardim lived in the
Iberian half peninsula for over a millennium, during which some of the most
important Jewish theological, philosophical and literary works were created.
However, in the year 1492 the Spanish Jews together with the Moor Muslims were
expelled from Spain and were forced to find new homes - mostly across the entire
Mediterranean region. This relocation process helped enrich Sephardic life and
culture as well as the lives of the peoples they interacted with. In this regard, the
city of Budapest was no exception. As in the rest of eastern and central Europe, the
Jews living in Budapest were Ashkenazim (In general, the Ashkenazim are a Yiddish
speaking people who have a German background).
The Sephardic Jews arrived in Budapest for the first time, due to the Ottoman
Empire taking over the city in the mid 16th century. Budapest (Buda at the time) was
considered the most important center of Jewish culture in Europe. The immigrating
Sephardim together with the local Ashkenazim were able to form a cultural bridge
between east and west.
Asamblea Mediterranea, with its unique repertoire, brings together the music of the
Sephardim and the Ashkenazim, in a modern day continuation of the fascinating
dialogue between these two Jewish cultural groups. The highly acclaimed eight
member ensemble has been developing its personal style for over thirteen years,
during which it has performed for audiences across Europe and Israel. Utilizing
classical composition, improvisation, and a free playing rhythm section as the basis
of their music, the ensemble creates a special and exciting sound.
Péter Gerendás and Tamás Somló will be the guest performers of this ensemble from
Stuttgart, who are eagerly expecting the meeting and the cooperation. Péter and
Tamás are two determining figures of Hungarian pop music, their popularity has
been unbroken for four decades, and their fans love them for their well-established
musical style and performances. This time they will welcome their fans with songs
from their own repertoire and their mutual performance with the Asamblea
Mediterranea.
TIBOR BORNAI
Urania National Movie Theater
August 25, 2013 7.30 pm.
Album entitled: TESTOSTERONE
For the first time in my life I was able to freely create a unified material, without
any restrictions, only considering artistic viewpoints. I invited the opera singer
for this genre meeting. I wrote her tunes that may reveal the beauty of the
genre. Rhythm is a basic element in today's pop music. Here I employed a live
drum choir, made up of seven drummers, who beat the drum through their part
with dance-theater-like movements.
On the album entitled Testosterone the Hungarian folk violin is sounded.
The lyrics are important elements of the album. The title, Testosterone, intentionally
refers to manliness and manly existence. The whole album is about this topic. It is a
theme that has never been dealt with in such a complex manner before.
Although I am not a beginner, this album still marks a fresh new start in several
aspects. The band playing this material, the extended SERIOUS MEN, is a new
formation as well. The date marks my birthday and it becomes one in many respects.
Finally this new performance is being born, carrying my own voice. I thank my fate
for this. (Tibor Bornai, Composer)
Streisand – Evergreen
Dohány Street Synagogue
August 28, 2013 7:00 pm.
With: the Stúdió11 Band celebrating its 50th anniversary, Erika Náray, Lilla
Polyák and Andrea Szulák
Barbra Streisand is an American actress, singer-songwriter, director, screenwriter and
film producer who has won two Oscars, three Golden Globe Awards and several
Grammy Awards. She is one of the best known and most productive performers in
modern entertainment history. She was the first female songwriter to win an Oscar
with her song "Evergreen". Besides her films and songs she is also well know for her
own compositions. In her concerts she conveys current ideas in philosophical depths
and religious devotion, grating way beyond the simply musical experience. She has
always been proud of her Jewish origins, in her film-musical entitled “Yentl” she
presents the thoughts and traditions of Jewish religious life and draws on the faith of
her ancestors. Her debut album, "The Barbra Streisand Album" was released 50
years ago, in 1963 and her film entitled "Yentl" came out 30 years ago. We would
like to show our respect for her work with a symphonic-vocal concert comprising of
two parts on the occasion of these two anniversaries where we pick and choose from
her songs and life-work.
Remarkable and well known songs will be presented by excellent Hungarian singers
and the Stúdió 11 Band that celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. We expect to
have a very emotional atmosphere within the walls of the Synagogue, where the
message of the songs will be enhanced by the location and thanks to the special
instrumentation of the band the audience can expect a unique musical experience.
The three popular singers who also stood on one stage together for the operetta
entitled "Rebecca – the Lady of the Manderley House" signed by Szilveszter Lévay
are going to perform together again singing the world famous songs of Barbra
Streisand.
Gioacchino Rossini: MOSES
Dohány Street Synagogue
September 1, 2013
Opera in three acts, concert-like performance
Presented by: The Szeged Symphonic Orchestra and the Viktor Vaszy Choir,
Conducted by: Tamás Pál
Rossini's fascinating “Moses” is about the ten plagues of the Bible. Darkness falls
over the land of Egypt and in their fear the Pharaoh and his people turn to the
Prophet hoping that he would be able to avert the wrath of the Almighty.
This is how the first, Naples version of the opera of the famous Italian composer
originating from 1818 begins. The final scene is one of the masterpieces of the opera
world: The prayer of Moses and the Jewish folk, the separation of the Red Sea into
two, the fatal storm which drowns the Egyptian army that follows the Israelites in the
Sea. The epilogue of the orchestra reflects the peace at the sea after the storm and
this remarkable work ends with the lyrical sounds representing the Israelites arriving
at the Promised Land.
The Naples version comprising of 3 acts is going to have its debut at the Jewish
Summer Festival in Hungary in the beautiful Dohány Street Synagogue guest starring
well known Hungarian and two Israeli opera singers. The tenor Yotam Cohen and the
soprano Ira Bertman are popular soloists of the Aviv Opera House, taking on classical
roles of the world of opera and are known and work outside Israel as well, at opera
houses all over Europe
http://zsidonyarifesztival.hu/?lang=en
https://www.facebook.com/zsnyf?fref=ts
IVRI LIDER
Budapest Music Center
August 31, 2013
"Ivri Lider is one of the most successful Israeli musicians of his generation,
appreciated by fellow artists, critics, and the public alike. Through his lyrics, Ivri
brings to life the thoughts and day-to-day encounters of a new generation of Israelis
– a generation he calls “The New People.”
"It comes as no surprise to those who follow the Israeli music scene that the
combination of Ivri’s songwriting and his unique voice have made him not only a
star, but one of the most adored and respected people in Israel."
Music
Lider took the Israeli music world by storm and sold over a million copies of his
albums (6 original albums, live albums and DVD). His performances are highly
praised by critics and audiences alike, and are always sold out early on.
Lider has fans from all different age groups-teenagers, soldiers, students, young
couples
and over sixty. His songs became the background soundtrack of "Israeli living".
Lider's songs are continuously played on the radio and are on the most played list of
most radio stations.
Lider's performances are energetic and passionate. Lider is devoted to his audiences
and they, in return, love him back.
Gabi Szűcs and her Band
introduces:"Swinging Amy"concert
Amy Winehouse Songs in Swing Style
Urania National Movie Theater
August 31, 2013 9.00 pm
Those who embark on the latest musical journey of Gabi Szucs and her Band, will be
a part of a unique experience. The band endeavored to introduce the British soul
singer of tragic fate, Amy Winehouse's most well known songs in Swing style.
Amy Winehouse has also been a highly influential Jazz singer and interpreted the
most well known songs of the time. This concert reintroduces her songs as such
unique musical treats that appeal to lovers of both worlds of music.
My dream has literally come true with this project. One day I woke up to my own
voice saying out loud: Swinging Amy....tunes from the song Rehab sounded in my
head...I am very fond of Amy Winehouse's work and voice and I think her songs will
be enriched with new meaning and colors through the Swing approach. The songs
were transcribed by Peter Kuzbelt, excellent saxophonist and leader of the Showder
Band. An entertaining and heart-rending musical treat following the most beautiful
traditions of Jazz and Swing from Rehab to Valerie, through all our favorites."
http://zsidonyarifesztival.hu/?lang=en
https://www.facebook.com/zsnyf?fref=ts
Sharon Brauner
Budapest Music Center
August 27, 2013 7:30 pm
Sharon Brauner grew up in West Berlin. She had her first small role in a motion
picture when she was three years old. She financed her studies at the conservatory
on her own working at different clubs in Berlin. In addition to studying she directed
and sang in her own class in New York at the Lee Strasberg Institute as well and
performed in different clubs at night. She has world famous melodies and traditional
Jewish motifs in her repertoire, all performed in Yiddish. She presents these songs
with her band using a special sound.
http://zsidonyarifesztival.hu/?lang=en
https://www.facebook.com/zsnyf?fref=ts