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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.

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?

Adventure-filled dance drama inspired by István Fekete's novel The Testament of Aga Koppanyi

The world-renowned composer/conductor who passed away recently at the age of 80 after being awarded the Kossuth Grand Prize this year, once said that "jazz is a fundamental element for me”. At this concert in memory of his life and work, in addition to an early piece of electronic music and a late choral work, we will hear compositions of his that are closely linked to the sounds of jazz and improv performed by prominent artists from the Hungarian jazz scene.

The legendary American jazz drummer Brian Blade (Chick Corea, Joshua Redman, Bill Frisell) is both a familiar face in Hungary and also a highly sought-after performer in pop circles, having played with many of the greats, including Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan. Blade has performed in Hungary on many occasions, including in a trio alongside Norah Jones.

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.

Zsombor Tóth-Vajna is an outstandingly talented member of the young Hungarian generation of artists dedicated to the historically informed performance of early music, both as a conductor and a specialist in early keyboard instruments, playing the organ, harpsichord, fortepiano and clavichord. He completed his studies at Budapest's Liszt Academy and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.

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.

Medieval ballads often gave a voice to the position of women in society, whether they were elevated to heaven or simply reduced to dust. Female destinies will come to life during the song programme The Girl Who Was Taken to Heaven, where we will hear a bouquet of medieval Hungarian folk ballads.

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

The first concert of a series showcasing the celebrated musical landscapes of Europe will take us north to present the unique world, colours and flavours of the people of Scandinavia. The musical theme of Sibelius's symphonic poem, which presents historical events, has become a national song for the Finnish people.

Born into a family of musicians, the eerily talented American singer Veronica Swift has cut through the stages of her career like a hot knife through butter to release, at the age of 29, her eponymous sixth album, the one that best reflects the full diversity of her personality.

A Székely gate is a symbol of ancient power, faith, hope, belonging to God, a channel of communication between heaven and earth. Its three posts represent the unity of body, soul and spirit, and its carvings are symbols that render protection, grace and blessing.

It could hardly be said that Zsigmond Móricz is an unknown figure in Hungarian literature. But to what extent does his image reflect the sheer diversity of his life's work? In recent decades, Zsófia Szilágyi's in-depth analysis of Móricz has done much to make the multifaceted nature of the author more accessible.

Carl Orff
CARMINA BURANA
Scenic cantata, in the original languages, with Hungarian and English surtitles

With a personal approach yet also a passion that is obvious to all, Orsi Kozma will perform songs from Hungarian pop divas that have played a decisive role in both her own development and the formation of her musical tastes.

At its World-Wide concert series held each year since 2013, Müpa Budapest has showcased the history of the cimbalom and the tárogató and the diverse range of genres they can be used in.

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.

Spanish musician Andrea Motis is a thrilling talent, equally at home in jazz, classical music, funk and electronica.

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 kongói-belga származású Marie Daulne Belgiumban alapította Zap Mama nevű zenekarát, és lett vele a világzenei színtér egyik korai sztárja.

Wandering Gypsies leading adventurous lives and gallant yet ridiculous nobles abusing their power are the main characters of the animated film Szaffi. This adaptation of Mór Jókai's classic novel The Gypsy Baron is by now familiar to several generations of Hungarians.

Giuseppe Verdi
RIGOLETTO
Opera in three acts, in Italian, with Hungarian English and Italian subtitles

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.

Angélique Kidjo dalaiban szívesen működnek közre a jazz, a soul, a pop világsztárjai, és ugyanúgy örömmel dolgozik együtt fiatal producerekkel, mint ahogyan nekiáll egy az egyben feldolgozni egy klasszikus Talking Heads-albumot. Hatalmas és befolyásos zenei és emberi nagyság - látni és hallani kell!

Giuseppe Verdi
AIDA
Opera in three parts, four acts, in Italian, with Hungarian, English, and Italian subtitles

When we hear the sounds of both a Guarneri and a Stradivarius emanating from a string quartet, this is often a good indication of the skill of the hands playing them.

Johan Inger – William Forsythe – Hans van Manen – Sol León – Paul Lightfoot
FRENETIC DANCE
Four one-act ballet in three parts

The popular folk-rock band MORDÁI, which was founded by Soma Nóvé - who made his name with the group Middlemist Red - feeds on the bedrock of experimental Hungarian folk music of the 1960s and 70s, boldly reconceptualising folk songs and well-known melodies with jazz motifs and elements of improvisation.

Philip Glass / Jean Cocteau
LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES
A ballet-opera by Philip Glass based on the story by Jean Cocteau, in French, with Hungarian and English surtitles

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.

Sergei Prokofiev
ВОЙНА И МИР (WAR AND PEACE)
Contemporary Opera
Opera in thirteen scenes, in two parts, in Russian with Hungarian and English subtitles

As a member of the Vienna Boys Choir, the young Austrian pianist Lukas Sternath got the chance to travel the world. After training in his home country, he is now studying with Igor Levit, who himself had the opportunity to introduce himself as a rising star eleven years ago.

A BBC Magazine ötcsillagos lemezkritikája szerint „intenzív kifejezéssel és roppant melegséggel” játszik tavaly megjelent debütáló albumán a muzikalitásával és színpadi jelenlétével is magával ragadó Matilda Lloyd, aki számos koncertje mellett mesterkurzusokat tart, podcast-sorozatot vezet, és Afrikában jótékonykodik.