Bridging Europe

Focus on the United Kingdom

This is a truly remarkable festival we have to look forward to, as the event series jointly organised by the Budapest Festival Orchestra and Müpa Budapest will this year shine the spotlight on a country that is no longer a member of the European Union. However, the United Kingdom remains an important and honoured part of Europe, a fact supported by the excellent and lasting work of countless British artists whose contributions to music, cinema and literature are all indispensible parts of this extraordinarily rich programme.

Taking the stage once again with the Budapest Festival Orchestra at the festival's Baroque concert will be the world-famous soprano Emőke Baráth performing under the baton of British early music enfant terrible Christian Curnyn. The orchestra has also dedicated a separate evening to showcasing the island nation's last 40 years, and the third concert will evoke the sounds of England, Wales and Scotland through works by Haydn, Britten and MacMillan. Anyone who loves a night out in an Irish pub will adore this concert by Firkin, who will be sharing the stage with popular performers like Ági Szalóki, James Karácsony, Attila Szabó and Gergő Baricz. Also joining us at Müpa Budapest will be Hungary's first Pink Floyd tribute band, Keep Floyding, who will play cover songs of their legendary predecessor.

Literary buffs will enjoy the compilation of English and other British writers put together by Ádám Nádasdy for interpretation by popular Hungarian actors, while lovers of the cinema will get to see such undisputable classics, each accompanied by an interesting discussion, as 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, Eyes Wide Shut, The End of the Affair and Animal Farm. Last but not least, visitors are encouraged to have a look at an exhibition we have organised in conjunction with the festival: From Purcell to Punk, or the English manner. This show offers a glimpse into nearly eight centuries of British musical history.