A special musical alliance has formed between three Transylvanian Hungarian singers and the internationally recognized Budapest Gypsy Symphony Orchestra, commonly known as the One Hundred Gypsy Musicians. An exceptional concert program has been put together by these artists, entitled Hungarikum Cavalcade, which combines three elements considered to be of significant value to Hungarian culture: operettas, popular Hungarian melodies and orchestral pieces. The performance will go on an international tour, with the premier taking place in Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca) on September 4.
Soloist Márton Manaszes, opera singer Ibolya Vigh, singer of popular Hungarian melodies Árpád Buta and Farkas Beke, manager of the One Hundred Gypsy Musicians, presented their ambitious project at a news conference this past Thursday in Kolozsvár, maszol.ro news reported.
As it turned out, it was the dream of Márton Manaszes to make – as he said – “the most exciting elements of Hungarian culture” available to Hungarians who emigrated to the West and to foreign music lovers, too. The artists considered it important that the tour, which plans on bringing these “Hungarikums” to many countries, starts in Transylvania. “Hungarikum” is a collective term which refers to typically Hungarian values worthy of distinction, highlighted in a unified system of classification and a registry of the Hungarikum Committee. Outstanding works of Hungarian people both within Hungary and abroad, natural assets under protection, and national products of superior standard are all examples of things that can be considered to be Hungarikums.
The manager of the orchestra emphasized that it is a unique initiative that three Hungarikums are presented to the world in this way, propagating the idea that “the Hungarian nation is alive and adding value to universal culture.” Though it is not characteristic to the One Hundred Gypsy Musicians to perform as an accompanying band to singers, their line-up is “colorful and strong,” Manaszes added. Singer Árpád Buta said that they hope to renew people’s interest in these musical genres, and they invite the general public to a memorable performance on September 4 in Kolozsvár.
The price range for tickets varies between RON 75 (EUR 16) to RON 249 (EUR 52); retirees and students get a discount of RON 10, or EUR 2. The performance in two acts will last for two and half hours, and those who purchase the RON 249 tickets will get a dinner and wine, which they can enjoy in the VIP section.
The concert tour has a charitable aspect as well: 5 percent of the revenue from every ticket sold will be donated to the Mazi Association. As the organizers of the tour revealed, “mazi” is the Greek word for together, and Mazi Association was founded in 2018 to help gather the funds necessary for the treatment of a young woman from Kolozsvár, Gizella Fekete-Ingber, who is suffering from leukemia. The president of Mazi, Enikő Ingber, emphasized at the press conference that it is a huge help for them that those behind Hungarikum Cavalcade have embraced their cause, as unfortunately “every life has a price.” She also said that over the long term, the association will try to extend its activity and help support other patients suffering from this disease as well.
Tickets are already on sale and can be purchased from the cashier’s office at the event venue, the BT Arena of Kolozsvár, on the tour’s website, or all across the country in Vodafone, Germanos, Relay and Inmedio stores.
Featured image: The orchestra of the One Hundred Gypsy Musicians became part of the Collection of Hungaricums in 2014 in recognition of its world-famous artistic and traditional work.
Source: Száz Tagú Cigány Zenekar/Facebook
