It has been seven years since the Folk Music Faculty began operating at the Liszt Academy of Music. To welcome its arrival, the Palace of Arts launched its series under the title A Celebration of Folk Music, which has grown year by year into the most prestigious event in the genre, presenting the most popular performers and the latest trends in folk music from both the traditional and progressive angles. This year’s event promises more of the same, while adding even more depth to the experience with free programmes aimed at a family audience in the Foyer and Glass Hall from 4 o’clock in the afternoon. After the opening of an exhibition featuring the work of photographer Béla Kása, masters of folk crafts will impart their carpet-weaving and hair-braiding skills; those who prefer to play, meanwhile, can lose themselves attempting to solve giant mechanical puzzles. While all this is going on, visitors to Ferkó Kádár’s Photo Theatre can have their image preserved for posterity in period costume and the accoutrements of folk culture, imposed over a background photograph projected onto a special canvas. And as if this were not enough, Meselia and the István Ádám Memorial Band will hold a dance house both before and after the evening’s gala concert. Of course the evening in the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall is guaranteed to raise the mood to fever pitch. While the Poros ensemble and FolkEmbassy both excel in presenting Hungary’s authentic folk sounds, the Kerekes Band absorbs melodies from Gyimes and Moldavia into an irresistible whirl of ethno-funk. The duo of wind instrument player Balázs “Dongó” Szokolay and organist László Fassang not only soar above the boundaries between folk and classical music, but open up a whole new world through ecstatic improvisation. The Gipsy Reunion project of Karaván Família and the Kálmán Balogh Trio blends the traditions of Roma vocal and instrumental music with the passion of flamenco, the poignancy of Russian Gypsy tunes, fiery Balkan influences and Manouche jazz, while the Dina ensemble weaves Hungarian motifs into bewitching Sephardic Jewish songs. Finally, as a special celebration within the celebration, the 40-year-old Vujicsics Ensemble demonstrates the roots of Southern Slavic musical tradition in Hungary. Presented by: Palace of Arts

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