Draw your swords! Valiant Hungarians battling their Turkish and German foes, courage and duels, heroic raids and burning love. These are the subjects of The Testament of Aga Koppanyi, a definative experience for many of us Hungarians both in book and cinematic form. All of this is, however, serves only as a starting point for the Hungarian National Dance Ensemble’s dance drama intended especially for young people in which history and the reality of the modern era meet in a theatre-within-a-theatre production, and where the characters alternate between adventuring in the distant past and the world of today.
István Fekete’s first adventure novel, set during the period of the Turkish occupation of Hungary, has supplied many generations with iconic reading, its popularity probably reaching its peak with the release of the 1967 film version. While this is not the first time Zoltán Zsuráfszky, the leader of the Hungarian National Dance Company, has tackled a historical subject, with this one he and co-creator Zsuzsa Zs. Vincze expand the framework of traditional storytelling on the dance stage, offering us an opportunity to delve into the everyday life of the troupe as they prepare to perform The Testament of Aga Koppanyi, along with a peek into some behind-the-scenes secrets of the theatre, all while confronting a moral worthy of consideration about conflicts arising from the coexistence of peoples and cultures. The music for this dance drama is the work of composer Benjamin Eredics, also known as a member of the Söndörgő Band, whose piece Castles, Warriors, Frontiers won an award at Müpa Budapest’s 2020 Music Competition. Its musical world combines the era of the occupation with folk music, modern instrumental effects and the emotional character of dance music. As the threads of the distant past and the present intertwine, we will get to encounter basic moral truths, such as respect for the opponent, respect for each other and the importance of true friendship. This production intended for young people offers the audience a chance to watch spectacular and virtuosic dances taking place against a colourful and exciting set design.
This production of the Liszt Fest is presented by Müpa Budapest as a joint event with the Hungarian National Dance Ensemble.
Age: 9- year
Presented by: Müpa Budapest
Creators:
István Gázsa Papp
band of the Hungarian National Dance Ensemble
Gergő Sánta
Attila Tompa
Attila Tókos
Featured musicians (recorded):
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