The key reference point of this preformance of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble is Zoltán Kodály’s oeuvre. Just like in the Ensemble’s previous productions, tradition is brought to stage with extreme vitality, in symbiosis with contemporary artistic expressions.
The musical framework of the story, which evolves from the small events of an imaginary community, is provided by the compositions of Kodály, his contemporaries Béla Bartók, László Lajtha and the folksongs collected by the composer. We follow the evolution of human relationships and the loss as well as joys and grievances and the rituals of everyday life and festivities throughout the scenes.
A richly nuanced, lyrical-associative imagery and a spectrum of playful changes in time and space lead the audience to the final scene: the cathartic enunciation of the triumph of human existence, of life itself.
In Dance Canon we can hear parts of well-known Kodály works, such as Háry János (Op. 15), Mátra Pictures, Kálló Double Dance, Psalmus Hungaricus (Op. 13) and Evening.
Archive images presented during the performance are property of the Museum of Ethnography.
Image selection: Dorottya Judit Csorba.
The performance is a joint production of the Hungarian Heritage House, the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble, the Budapest Spring Festival, and the National Dance Theatre.
About the event
Dance Canon - Hommage à Zoltán Kodály
