BUDAPEST JEWISH CULTURAL FESTIVAL – MORE THAN MUSIC: THE MEETING OF CULTURES
26 TH JEWISH CULTURAL FESTIVAL
8-18 SEPTEMBER 2024 (BUDAPEST-HUNGARY)
The 26th Jewish Cultural Festival will once again open its doors this September, offering an unforgettable experience to the audience in the heart of Budapest, in the city’s most beautiful synagogues. Jewish tradition has enriched Hungarian culture for centuries, and this festival celebrates this special connection. Through the shared language of music, comedy, literature, and art, we celebrate the richness of diversity and how coexistence contributes to a more open and accepting world.
Everyone will be enchanted by the rich heritage of Jewish culture as we discover how deeply the traditions of different peoples are rooted in Hungarian culture.
The intimate atmosphere of the synagogues on Dohány Street, Hegedűs Gyula Street, Frankel Leó Street, and Rumbach Street provides a special opportunity to understand that the Jewish Cultural Festival is not just a cultural event but a testament to the harmony of cultures and the peaceful coexistence of peoples. Join us on this unforgettable journey and explore the beauty of Hungarian, Jewish, and Central-Eastern European culture in Budapest’s magical venues!
Be a part of this special experience!
HIGHLIGHTS
DOHÁNY STREET SYNAGOGUE
MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER, 8:00 pm
KATICA ILLÉNYI: SUMMER, KLEZMER, TANGO
The incredibly versatile Katica Illényi (vocals, violin, theremin) will be accompanied in this concert by pianist Rita Termes, an associate professor at the University of Theatre and Film Arts, with composer Rezső Ott playing the accordion, and the Junior Prima Award-winning Anima Musicae Chamber Orchestra participating. The conductor will be Péter Illényi, the chief conductor of Budapest Scoring.
In this special concert, the Liszt, Artisjus, and eMRton Award-winning violin and theremin artist Katica Illényi and her fellow artists will enchant the audience with the world of tango and klezmer, transporting them to a universe characterized by passion, love, and respect for tradition, all expressed through the magical language of music.
TICKET PRICES:
HUF 3,900 – 10,900
TUESDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER, 8:00 pm
CONCERT BY THE BUDAPEST KLEZMER BAND WITH SPECIAL GUESTS, FEATURING MUSICAL HITS AND THE BEST OF KLEZMER!
The Budapest Klezmer Band, founded and led by pianist Ferenc ‘Fegya’ Jávori, has been a prominent group for over 33 years, well-known both to the Jewish Cultural Festival and to the music-loving audiences across the country. For more than a quarter of a century, this ensemble has been a defining force in the genre, building its repertoire on the foundations of Central Eastern European Yiddish culture. In their upcoming concert, they will once again delight klezmer enthusiasts with their spectacular music. However, this time, they will not only perform traditional klezmer and Central Eastern European melodies.
At the festival, the audience will also enjoy popular musical hits from masterpieces such as The Farmer King (Levi’s Story), Wedding Dance, Fiddler on the Roof, and Ghetto.
The members of the Budapest Klezmer Band are: Ferenc ‘Fegya’ Jávori – piano, vocals; István Kohán – clarinet; Anna Nagy – accordion; Bence Gazda – violin, vocals; Gábor Barbinek – trombone; László Máthé – double bass; Balázs Végh – drums.
TICKET PRICES:
HUF 3,900 – 10,900
THURSDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER, 8:00 pm
THE MAGIC CONTINUES: SHARING THE STAGE – RHODA SCOTT & ROBY LAKATOS & JENŐ LISZTES & GIGI RADICS!
This concert promises to be truly special, as some of the greatest musical talents have accepted the invitation to perform at the Jewish Cultural Festival. These include Rhoda Scott, the master of the Hammond organ; Roby Lakatos, the creator of „special gypsy fusion music”; Jenő Lisztes, one of the most renowned cimbalom (a Hungarian hammered dulcimer) artists in the music world; and Gigi Radics, a Hungarian pop singer with a sensual voice and original style. The dignified sound of the organ, the enchanting sensitivity of the violin, and the magical heights of the cimbalom will accompany the unique voice of Gigi Radics.
The evening’s musical excitement is further enhanced by the fact that the performing artists will also present their own compositions. This blend of innovative musical approaches, mixing traditional and contemporary styles, promises cathartic moments in the sacred space of the beautiful Dohány Street Synagogue.
The concert is organized by the Green Stage Production agency as part of the Jewish Cultural Festival.
TICKET PRICES:
HUF 13,000 – 24,000
SUNDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER, 8:00 pm
THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION CONCERT OF SWING À LA DJANGO WITH SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMERS
Swing à la Django is a band boasting two gold records, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and to mark this milestone, the group will perform a special concert as the closing event of the Jewish Festival.
The band has created a unique style by harmoniously blending pop music, Hungarian folk music, French manouche swing, and Argentine bossa nova, resulting in a distinctive sound they call Hungarian Django Swing. This is paired with the members’ passion for classical music, which has led to their crossover style born from reimagining classical masterpieces, quickly becoming a favorite among audiences. Swing à la Django consistently fills venues with their „Bach to the Future” and „Vivaldi: The Four Seasons” programs. The latter will also be performed at the synagogue, along with the most popular hits from the past 10 years, featuring performances by well-known and esteemed stars such as Margit Bangó, Nikolas Takács, Nikoletta Szőke, Orsi Kozma, Sára Herrer, Eszter Balla, Krisztina ‘Koszika’ Koszorús, and Tamás Szabó Kimmel.
The past 10 years have brought the band much success: their hits have conquered the playlists of major radio stations and garnered millions of views on music streaming platforms; they have performed with outstanding artists like Stochelo Rosenberg, Margit Bangó, Roby Lakatos, and Viktor Solomon; they have played on Hungary’s largest stages and festivals with the most famous stars of the local music scene; the band became the official ensemble for Margit Bangó, with whom they held a grand concert in the Budapest Arena in 2021; they also performed with renowned symphony orchestras such as the Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra, the Hagen Symphony Orchestra, the Debrecen Kodály Philharmonic, and the Székelyföld (Szeklerland) Philharmonic; and they appeared on prestigious international stages like the Vienna Musikverein and London’s Soho. We hope that many of us can join the band in celebrating their last decade at the Jewish Festival!
The band members are: János Dani – guitar, violin, composer; Norbert Dani – guitar; Róbert Gallyas Lakatos – piano, synthesizer; Vilmos Seres – clarinet, tárogató (a traditional Hungarian woodwind instrument); Nándor Weisz – drums, percussion; Pál Lombos – double bass, cello, bandleader. Regular guest artist: Zoltán Baranyi – violin.
TICKET PRICES:
HUF 3,900 – 10,900
RUMBACH STREET SYNAGOGUE
WEDNESDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER, 7:00 PM
MOON RIVER: HENRY MANCINI CENTENNIAL, THE FOUR-TIME OSCAR-WINNING COMPOSER.
Henry Mancini, the world-renowned composer behind ‘Moon River,’ ‘The Pink Panther,’ and ‘Charlie’s Angels,’ would have turned 100 this year. Mancini, a musical genius who won four Oscars and twenty Grammys, was the most successful student of the legendary Jewish music teacher Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. He holds a special place in the hearts of the Jewish community, as he participated in the liberation of the Mauthausen concentration camp as a soldier in the U.S. Army.
On this evening, the stage of the Rumbach Synagogue will feature star guests such as Lennis Sabatino, a Broadway diva born in New York City and one of the favorite performers of U.S. presidents, who will be flying in from the United States. Also crossing the big pond for this concert is György Lakatos, the Florida-based guitarist honored with the title ‘Mr. Goldenhand,’ who gave an unforgettable performance at our festival eight years ago. Representing Hungarian culture are two wonderful vocal artists, opera singer Balázs Fellegi and chief cantor Gergely Nógrádi. The evening’s musical director is Zoltán Neumark, who will accompany the soloists with his ensemble.
TICKET PRICES:
HUF 5,900 – 6,900
THURSDAY 12 SEPTEMBER, 7.00 PM
UNSEEN IN THE FILM: LEONARD BERNSTEIN’S SERENADE.
CONCERT BY ORSOLYA KORCSOLÁN – VIOLINIST, NÁTÁN SUGÁR – CONDUCTOR, AND THE MÁV SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
Leonard Bernstein‘s Serenade—whose world premiere (what a coincidence!) was nearly seventy years ago to the day—is perhaps the most dazzling yet overlooked gem of violin repertoire. At the premiere, Bernstein himself conducted, with the world-renowned violinist Isaac Stern and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra performing.
According to the composer’s intentions, the composition is an allegorical hymn to love, written for violin and orchestra in four movements. We will now have the opportunity to hear it performed by violinist Orsolya Korcsolán and the MÁV Symphony Orchestra, accompanied by the 18-year-old conductor Nátán Sugár, who is making his debut in Hungary at the Jewish Cultural Festival after having burst onto the Vienna music scene like a shooting star.
In addition to Bernstein’s Serenade, Max Bruch‘s Kol Nidrei for violin and orchestra, and Gustav Mahler‘s Adagietto will also resonate in the breathtakingly beautiful atmosphere of the Rumbach Synagogue.
TICKET PRICES:
HUF 5,900 – 6,900
SUNDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER, 7:00 PM
JAZZ FIDDLER ON THE ROOF: MALEK ANDI SOULISTIC FEAT. ROBY LAKATOS
This evening will feature extremely melodic and emotional arrangements from the world-famous musical Fiddler on the Roof, in which Tevye, the milkman from the Russian village of Anatevka, tries to preserve the Jewish traditions of his small community. Pianist Bandi Jáger has given the beautiful and bittersweet work of Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick a soft, jazz-infused, and uniquely lyrical sound, while carefully preserving the songs’ dramatic essence.
In the second half of the evening, the orchestra will perform their signature ‘Yiddish swing’ songs and Sephardic pieces. The concert will be made unforgettable by the distinctive, unique voice of Andrea Malek, a singer and actress who has won multiple Artisjus, eMeRTon, and Máté Péter awards, the brilliant playing of Peruvian flamenco guitarist Alex Torres, and the emotional arrangements by Bandi Jáger.
The legendary Hungarian violinist Roby Lakatos started playing in a band at just 11 years old and by the age of 19 was already touring Belgium with his own ensemble. Over his decades-long career, he has developed an unmistakably original style blending classical music, gypsy music, and jazz, and has shared the stage with world-renowned artists such as Yehudi Menuhin, Zubin Mehta, and Maxim Vengerov.
The band members are: Andrea Malek – vocals, Bandi Jáger – piano, György Orbán – double bass, András Lakatos Pecek – drums, Alex Torres – flamenco guitar.
TICKET PRICES:
HUF 5,900 – 6,900
HEGEDŰS GYULA STREET SYNAGOGUE
WEDNESDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER, 7:00 PM
KLEZMER, GIPSY AND SWING MELODIES: A CONCERT BY THE ZOLTÁN TORDAI ENSEMBLE AND KLÁRI VARGA.
As noted on the House of Music website, Zoltán Tordai, born in 1981, began playing with the Rajkó Orchestra at the age of 11 and founded his first band at 16. The Zoltán Tordai Quintet was formed in 2010. His artistic mission is to introduce young people to traditional Hungarian popular music, Hungarian folk music, and Hungarian classical music. This philosophy will be on full display this evening, where a new musical universe will emerge from the meeting of different musical worlds with klezmer, gypsy music, and swing in its focus.
Zoltán Tordai, who will be traveling from Debrecen to the Újlipótváros neighborhood of Budapest for this event, was awarded the special prize at the ‘Prímás’ Competition in 2015 and was honored with the Hungarian Silver Cross of Merit in 2022. The evening’s guest is actress Klári Varga, recipient of the Jászai Mari Award (of acting), who won the ‘Best Actress Award’ at the 30th Hungarian Film Festival and received the Award of Excellence this year. She is a member of the Csokonai National Theatre in Debrecen, with notable performances including the role of Mrs. Jourdain in The Bourgeois Gentleman, alongside Csaba Pindroch.
The band members are: Zoltán Tordai – violin, József Seres – cimbalom (a Hungarian hammered dulcimer), Mátyás Tordai – double bass, Géza Váradi – clarinet, Zoltán Váradi – viola.
TICKET PRICES:
HUF 4,900 – 5,900
MONDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER, 7.00 PM
JAM SESSION: TOGETHER WITH THE SABBATHSONG KLEZMER BAND AND BUDAPEST RAGTIME BAND
The Sabbathsong Klezmer Band—established at the same time as the Jewish Festival—enriches its already diverse repertoire every year with special guests and melodies. For 26 years, their slogan „more than klezmer” has been well-deserved. Last year, they achieved tremendous success at the Dohány Street Synagogue, where they were joined by two outstanding Kossuth Prize-winning artists, opera singer Eszter Sümegi and actor Géza D. Hegedűs.
This year, the band will take the stage at the Hegedűs Gyula Street Synagogue alongside the Budapest Ragtime Band, perhaps the most distinguished ensemble in Hungarian traditional jazz. Founded in 1980, the band’s exceptional instrumental skills, carefree performance style, and stage show have elevated them to be among the most recognized groups in their genre.
The Sabbathsong Klezmer Band and the Budapest Ragtime Band playing together promises not only to be a joyful jamming experience for the band members but also offers the audience a rare and outstanding musical treat.
TICKET PRICES:
HUF 5,900 – 6,900
TUESDAY 17 SEPTEMBER, 7:00 PM
CHARLES AZNAVOUR AND THE FRENCH CHANSON: AN EVENING WITH ADÉL JORDÁN AND ATTILA BARDÓCZY
Charles Aznavour (1924-2018), born into an Armenian family, was a chanson singer, composer, and film actor who received the Raoul Wallenberg Medal in Jerusalem at the age of 93 for his humanitarian work and heroism during World War II. He earned this prestigious honor, among other reasons, because when his parents hid Jews during the Nazi occupation of France, the then barely twenty-year-old Charles and his sister often offered their own beds to the persecuted. Aznavour, who wrote 1,300 songs over his long life and whose records sold 180 million copies worldwide, remained active until the end of his life. For his 95th birthday, he planned to give concerts in France, Japan, Switzerland, Ukraine, and even Israel, where he would have performed five years ago.
On this evening, we will hear the songs of Aznavour as well as those of other world-famous French chanson greats such as Édith Piaf, Yves Montand, Gilbert Bécaud, and Charles Trenet. Attila Bardóczy, Adél Jordán, and Péter Wagner-Puskás will accompany us on this grand musical journey.
Attila Bardóczy, an actor who—despite graduating from the Academy of Theatre and Film Arts in 1983 with a degree in drama—has become one of the most popular performers in Hungarian musical theater, thanks to his exceptional singing voice. He is also a great admirer of French culture, not only singing in French but also translating plays into Hungarian. In 1996, he won the Best Foreign Performer award at the Paris Chanson Competition.
Adél Jordán, a Junior Prima, Máthé Erzsi, and Golden Medal award-winning actress, is a member of the Katona József Theatre. She has delivered unforgettable performances on both stage and screen. Her distinctive character and acting skills place her among the best artists of her generation, and now the audience of the Jewish Cultural Festival will also have the chance to witness this. Join us as we embark on a journey into the beautifully unique and uniquely beautiful world of French chanson! Bon voyage!
TICKET PRICES:
HUF 5,900 – 6,900
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DETAILED PROGRAMME AND TICKET PURCHASE
* We reserve the right to change the date and program!
