Ágnes Herczku: Tüzet viszek

Album première

24 February 2012, 7.30 pm - 9.10 pm
Festival Theatre

Ágnes Herczku, one of Hungary’s most vibrant and talented folk singers and a multiple eMeRTon and Fonogram prize-winner, returns to her roots with her latest album. Her 2002 album, entitled Arany és kék szavakkal (“With Words of Gold and Blue”), was a miracle in itself, but it now appears she has outdone herself yet again. Herczku has worked tirelessly over the years to produce some wonderful individual songs, unique albums and collaborations with folk and jazz musicians, and has given both large-scale and solo performances, many here at the Palace of Arts.
The best of her albums were created with the multi-instrumentalist Nikola Parov, allowing her to explore uncharted territories and conquer new horizons. Equally successful was her album Szájról szájra (“Mouth to Mouth”) in collaboration with fellow singers Ági Szalóki and Szilvia Bognár. A significant phase of Herczku’s musical career was spent as a distinguished solo performer in the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble.
Herczku observes that her new album, Tüzet viszek (“I Carry Fire”), “is not merely a collection of pretty folk songs. Just as with my first album, Arany és kék szavakkal, I have attempted to pass on a message with every note and go past the beauty of the catchy tunes themselves.” Here, fire symbolises, in all its elemental power and fervour, a human attitude in which the culture of those who stand for spiritual awakening, knowledge and tradition, as well as the commitment of those active in their research, becomes manifest.
“I keep this fire alive naturally, the way our elders did in the past, by drawing nourishment from strong roots while staying open to all that is new.”

Presented by: Palace of Arts

Prices: 2200, 3600, 4700 Ft