Budapest Spring Festival (Budapesti Tavaszi Fesztivál)

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Spring Festivities with A Wide Range of Cultural Programs

The Budapest Spring Festival takes place in April each year. Besides Hungarian artists, numerous international stars perform during the 3 and half – week event.

About the Program

The largest and most prestigious cultural festival in Budapest attracts many classical music, opera and jazz fans from all around the world.

The festival has developed into one of Europe’s major cultural events with a series of opera, concert, ballet and theatrical performances.

You can choose from around 120 programs at around 40 venues, including various public places, squares, parks and streets where you can bump into a performance or program of some kind, like the Opening Parade.

Some other unique locales are:

• Music Academy,
• Palace of Arts (MüPa), Matthias Church,
• Várkert Bazaar (Buda Castle)
• Pesti Vigadó
• Ludwig Museum,
• the Budapest Music Centre in district IX.

Works of Franz Liszt are always an important part of the festival’s program and this year The Legend of St. Elizabeth oratorio will open the festival on 30. March in the Béla Bartók Concert Hall of the Müpa/Palace of Arts.

The festival also commemorates the 100th birthday of Leonard Bernstein. On 09. and 10. April. His “A Quiet Place” opera will be staged as a joint production with the Neue Oper Wien.

Piano in the Focus

An instrument, the piano will also be highlighted in this year’s program: international and Hungarian pianists will demonstrate the remarkable possibilities of the instrument:

• Martha Argerich arrives with the Kremerata Baltica and a Mendelssohn-Chopin program on 12. April (Müpa/Béla Bartók Concert Hall).
• the young pianist talent, Danyiil Trifonov, will be on stage on 31. March (Liszt Music Academy)
• The Grammy Award-winning Israeli-American pianist, Yefim Bronfman will be here with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and
• Yuja Wang, the Chinese-born extravagant piano virtuoso will return to Budapest with a concert on 16. April (Müpa/Béla Bartók Concert Hall)  

Rudolf Buchbinder and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra will be the guest of the festival, headed by its first female conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla (02. April).

Another exceptional female conductor, Emmanuelle Haïm’s comes with her own, world-famous old-music ensemble: the Le Concert d’Astrée (03. April, Music Academy).

The Berlin Philharmonic Brass Ensemble, the only independent ensemble of the festival brings an unrivaled performance on stage in the Pesti Vigadó, on 10. April.

Other programs of the Budapest Spring Festival include orchestral concerts, chamber evenings, opera performances, folk dance, exhibitions and a range of other interesting programs.

The 6-day Budapest Art Week between 17 – 22. April 2018 is a new supplementary program of the festival with nearly 60 programs in 50 venues:

• guided gallery visits,
• museum tours,
• performances,
• talks,
• private gallery and workshop visits).

The festival usually also has programs for children, like the PONT Festival, a series of Folk & Folk Art program in the Castle Bazaar. This year its main theme will be the Hungarian and Mediterranean folk traditions of Easter

Tickets – Buy Online to Secure You Place!

Tickets to performances in the Palace of Arts and the Liszt Music Academy!

Quick Links to the Programs

Orchestral Concerts – Chamber Concerts – International Theatre Festival – Opera – Jazz –  Dance – Contemporary Circus – Exhibitions – Free Programs

Download the Spring Festival’s entire 2017 program in PDF.

Orchestral Concerts During the Spring Festival

Franz Liszt: The Legend Of Elizabeth – Oratorio, Opening Concert, 30. March, 19.00

Venue: Palace of Arts/Müpa – Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, Address: Komor Marcell utca 1., district IX.

Tickets: 2 900 HUF, 3 500 HUF, 4 500 HUF, 5 900 HUF, 7 900 HUF

Featuring:

• Brigitta Kele – voice,
• Hungarian National Philharmonic,
• Hungarian National Choir (choirmaster: Csaba Somos)
• Conductor: Zsolt Hamar

Rudolf Buchbinder (piano) and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, 02. April, 19.30

Venue: Liszt Academy – Grand Hall, Address: Liszt Ferenc tér 8., district VI.

Tickets: 3 500 HUF, 4 900 HUF, 7 500 HUF, 9 900 HUF

• Wagner: Tristan and Isolde – prelude
• Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
• Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, “Fate”

Emmanuelle Haïm and Le Concert d’Astrée, 03. April, 19.30

Venue: Liszt Academy – Grand Hall, Address: Liszt Ferenc tér 8., district VI.

Tickets: 2 500 HUF, 4 800 HUF, 6 500 HUF, 7 900 HUF

Cantates italiennes

• Handel: Armida abbandonata – cantata for voice and chamber orchestra, HWV 105
• Handel: Trio Sonata in B flat minor, Op. 2/1
• Handel: Lucrezia – cantata for voice and chamber orchestra, HWV 145
• Handel: Aminta e Fillide – cantata for voice and chamber orchestra, HWV 83[/tie_list]

Yefim Bronfman (piano) and the Vienna Philharmonic, 06. April, 19.30

Venue: Palace of Arts/Müpa – Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, Address: Komor Marcell utca 1., district IX.

Tickets: 5 500 HUF, 7 900 HUF, 10 900 HUF, 14 900 HUF, 19 900 HUF

• Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
• Bartók: Piano Concerto No. 2, Sz. 95, BB 101
• Stravinsky: Petrushka

Sir Roger Norrington and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, 09. April, 19.30

Venue: Palace of Arts/Müpa – Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, Address: Komor Marcell utca 1., district IX.

Tickets: 4 500 HUF, 6 500 HUF, 8 900 HUF, 11 900 HUF, 14 900 HUF

• Mozart: Symphony No. 33 in B flat major, K. 319 Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, K. 495
• Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 1 in D major, K. 412 Mozart: Symphony No. 36 in C major, K. 4250

“On the way to Galicia”,

A concert to commemorate the end of the First World War

Venue: Liszt Academy – Grand Hall, Address: Liszt Ferenc tér 8., district VI.

Tickets: 2 000 HUF, 3 200 HUF, 4 500 HUF, 5 900 HUF

“On the way to Galicia” – cantata

• Levente Gyöngyösi: Katonasirató (Dirge for a Soldier)
• György Selmeczi: Te Deum 1914
• Miklós Csemiczky: De Profundis
• János Vajda: Memento 1914
• György Orbán: Versus Psalmi

Chamber Evenings

Daniil Trifonov’s Piano Recital, 31. March, 19.30

Venue: Liszt Academy – Grand Hall, Address: Liszt Ferenc tér 8., district VI.

Tickets: 3 500 HUF, 4 900 HUF, 7 500 HUF, 9 900 HUF

• Mompou: Variations on a Theme of Chopin
• Schumann: Carnival – excerpt (Chopin), Op. 9/12
• Grieg: Hommage à Chopin, Op. 73
• Barber: Nocturne – Hommage à John Field, Op. 33
• Tchaikovsky: Un poco di Chopin, Op. 72/15
• Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Chopin, Op. 22
• Chopin: Fantaisie Impromptu in C sharp minor, Op. 66
• Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35

The 26-year old pianist star

Orfeo Orchestra and Purcell Choir, 01. April, 19.30

Telemann: Die Auferstehung und Himmelfahrt Jesu, TWV 6:6 – Hungarian premiere
Bach: Magnificat, BWV 243

Venue: Liszt Academy – Grand Hall, Address: Liszt Ferenc tér 8., district VI.

Tickets: 2 000 HUF, 3 200 HUF, 4 500 HUF, 5 900 HUF

Kodály String Quartet, 05. April, 19.30

Venue: Pesti Vigadó – Ceremonial Hall, Vigadó tér 2., district V.

Tickets:  2 900 HUF, 3 900 HUF

• Debussy: String quartet in G minor, Op. 10
• Rachmaninoff: Romance and Scherzo
• Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70

Budapest Tomkins Vocal Ensemble, 11. April, 20.00

Rachmaninov: All-Night Vigil, Op. 37

Venue: Inner-City St. Michael Church, address: Váci utca 47/b., district V.

Tickets: 2 000 HUF

The Budapest Tomkins Vocal Ensemble was founded in 1978. Most of its members had studied at the Liszt Academy, as had their artistic director, János Dobra.

The piece they will perform evokes the splendour of Russian chants as well as the sensuous beauty of the Kiev and Greek style liturgical melodies.

Martha Argerich (piano) and the Kremerata Baltica, 12. April, 19.30

Venue: Palace of Arts/Müpa – Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, Address: Komor Marcell utca 1., district IX.

Tickets: 4 500 HUF, 6 500 HUF, 8 900 HUF, 11 900 HUF, 14 900 HUF

• Sumera: Symphōnē Mendelssohn: Octet – version for chamber orchestra
• Chopin: Mazurka in A minor, Op. 17/4 (arranged for chamber orchestra by Victor Kissine) Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat major, S. 124 (arranged by Gilles Colliard)

Lucie Horsch (recorder) and the Anima Musicae Chamber Orchestra, 13. April, 19.30

Jabot Festival

Venue: Hungarian National Museum – Ceremonial Hall, address: Múzeum krt. 14-16., district VIII.

Tickets: 3 300 HUF

• Castello: Sonata No. 2
• Sammartini: Recorder Concerto in F major
• Debussy: Syrinx, L. 129
• Blavet: Recorder Concerto in A minor
• Bach: E-dúr szonáta furulyára és basso continuóra, BWV 1035
• Bach: Concerto for harpsichord in D minor, BWV 1059R
• Yun: Der Besucher der Idylle (Idyll’s Visitor)
• Vivaldi: Recorder Concerto in C major, RV 444

Berlin Philharmonic Brass Ensemble, 15. April, 19.00

Venue: Pesti Vigadó – Ceremonial Hall, Vigadó tér 2., district V.

Tickets:  2 500 HUF, 3 500 HUF

• Händel–Martin Wagenmann: Suite from Handel’s works (I. Samson; II. Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne; III. Fireworks Suite)
• Bach–Enrique Crespo: Jesus bleibet meine Freude – chorale overture
• Bach–Alfred Lauss: Bist du bei mir – chorale overture
• Dowland–Olaf Ott: Four Renaissance Dances for Four Trombones
• Rossini–Sándor Balogh: The Barber of Seville – Dunque io son
• Shostakovich–Mogens Andresen–Daniel Drage: Jazz Suite No. 2
• Richards: Homage to the Noble Grape
• Gade–Richard Bissell: Jealousy Tango
• Miller–Olaf Ott: Glenn Miller Story[/tie_list]

Theatre Performances – Madách International Theatre Meeting (MITEM)

The festival regularly hosts a meeting of international and Hungarian theatres,.

This year a dozen companies from all over Europe will come and present 20 performances in  the National Theatre in Budapest.

Visit the website of the event for more information.

Some of the Performances:

Venue: all performances will presented in the National Theatre, Address: Bajor Gizi park 1., district IX.

Opera – Budapest Spring Festival

Bernstein: A Quiet Place – premiere

Performance by Neue Oper Wien

Venue: Palace of Arts/Müpa, Festival Theatre, Address: Komor Marcell utca 1., district IX.

Tickets: 2 900 HUF, 3 500 HUF, 4 500 HUF

Sam: Steven Scheschareg
Dede: Katrin Targo
Junior: Daniel Foki
François: Nathan Haller
Funeral director: Pablo Cameselle
Bill: Georg Klimbacher
Susie: Rebecca Blanz
Analyst: Savva Tikhonov
Doc: Johannes Schwendinger
Mrs. Doc: Veronika Dünser

Featuring:

• soloists of Wiener Kammerchor
• Conductor: Walter Kobéra
• Libretto: Stephen Wadsworth
• Libretto adapted and reduced orchestration by: Garth Edwin Sunderland
• Set, costumes: Christian Tabakoff
• Lighting: Norbert Chmel
• Director: Philipp M. Krenn

Jazz Concerts

Lovers of jazz music can choose from around a dozen concerts.

The Feast of Hungarian Jazz will take place on 08. April and 09. April at 19.00 in the Budapest Jazz Club (Hollán Ernő utca 7., district XIII.) with award ceremonies and concerts.

InFusion Trio: Stardust, 01. April, 20.00

Album release concert

Venue: Uránia Nemzeti Filmszínház – Grand Hall, address: Rákóczi út 21., district VIII.

Tickets: 3 400 HUF

Chopin University Big Band – Film Scores, 03. April, 20.00

Filmowo Bigbandowo

Venue: Uránia Nemzeti Filmszínház – Grand Hall, address: Rákóczi út 21., district VIII.

Tickets: 3 800 HUF

The Bad Plus, 16. April, 19.00

Venue: Budapest Jazz Club, address: Hollán ERnő utca 7., district XIII.

Tickets: 5 900 HUF

Kurt Elling: Passion World, 21. April, 20.00

Venue: Palace of Arts/Müpa – Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, Address: Komor Marcell utca 1., district IX.

Tickets: 2 900 HUF, 3 500 HUF, 4 500 HUF, 5 900 HUF, 7 900 HUF

Dance Performances

Alexander Vantournhout & Bauke Lievens: Raphaël, 12., 13., 14. April

Venue: Trafó House of Contemporary Arts, address: Liliom utca 41., district IX.

Tickets: 2 400 HUF

• Performed by: Raphaël Billet, Alexander Vantournhout
• Created by: Alexander Vantournhout, Bauke Lievens
• Dramaturgy: Bauke Lievens 

All Hungarians’ Dance, 22. April, 10.30

Venue:Papp László Budapest Sportarena, Address: Stefánia út 2., district XIV.

Hungarian dance traditions, dance instructions and presentations.

An event jointly organized with the 36th National Dance House Festival and Fair.

Contemporary Circus

FAMILIE FLÖZ: Hotel Paradiso, 03. April, 19.00

Venue: Palace of Arts/Müpa, Festival Theatre, Address: Komor Marcell utca 1., district IX.

Tickets: 3 500 HUF, 4 500 HUF, 5 500 HUF

A dramatic nightmare in a respectable mountain hotel, with black humour and a touch of melancholy.

A fearful and mysterious world is revealed behind the four-star elegance. But the old adage still holds true: too many corpses in a hotel will sooner or later ruin the business.

Exhibitions During the Budapest Spring Festival

36th Hungarian Press Photo Exhibition, from 30. March

Venue: Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center, Nagymező utca 8., district VI:

Tickets:

You can view the best Hungarian press photos of 2017.

NAGY>ON, 03 – 20. April

Venue: Klauzál 13. Galéris, address: Klauzál tér 13., district VII.

Fruzsina Nagy and Gergő Nagy’s costume and photo exhibition.

Permanent Revolution – Ukrainian Art Today, 05. April, 17.00 (Opening)

Venue: Ludwid Museum of Contemporary Arts

The exhibition is on between 06. April – 24. June 2018.

Budapest Art Week, 17 – 22. April

Venues: cc. 50 exhibition halls, galleries, museums, workshops.

Tickets:

• full price: 5 000 HUF,
• students, seniors: 4 000 HUF,
• family: (2 adults + max. 3 kids, older than 6): 14 000 HUF.

Note: You’ll receive a wristband with which you can visit all programs during the 6 days.

A new event focusing on the contemporary art scene of Budapest and offering an opportunity to experience the best of the current and most significant moments of the art world.

Visit the official website for more details.

The Day of Open Studios when private galleries, art studios open their doors to the public. Other programs include guided museum visits, gallery tours, talks and performances.

Free Programs of the Festival

Each year the festival offers programs to which entry is free.

Related:

More April Events – Budapest Spring Fair –  Cultural Venues in Budapest – Summer Festival – Autumn Festival (CAFE Budapest) – Concerts in Budapest – Museums in Budapest