Hommage à Bartók Béla
The political cataclysm of the nineties had resulted in the emergence of new democracies in Central and East Europe. The living memory of the revolution of 1956 had made Hungary a protagonist of such changes. A new Hungarian Republic was born. This signi-ficant historic event fundamentally and quickly reshaped our economic, social and cultural environment. However, the whole world is continuously changing and we are influenced by these changes. In such an ever-changing world, it is difficult to rely on certain values because our approach to tradition, considered beforehand permanent and constant, has also changed.
In view of these facts, the conclusion is inevitable that we need to identify and to show the live, affirmable and valuable elements of our tradition; and to identify and to position ourselves in our language and in our world.
While conceiving the Hungarian Concerto, the originators were guided by the oeuvre of world-famous composer, ethnomusicologist and pianist Béla Bartók. His spirituality and life-work convincingly prove that tradition and modernity are complementary categories. Knowing our native culture, folk-dances and folkmusic, and proceeding from it, we can find our special, modern and topical way of artistic expression, our new language of stage dance.
The performance of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble is a complex dance theater unique in the world; traditional folk-dance, folk-music, contemporary music, sophisticated stage equip-ment and an up-to-date dramaturgy are integral parts of a contemporary com-munal theater, however facilitating personal identification, representing universal values.
The Hungarian Concerto reflects the unity of tradition and of modernity: the gorgeous variegation of Hungarian folk-music and folk-dance, the acrobatic virtuosity of men's dances, the lyricism of girls' dances, the charm of love reflected by twosome dances, pearls of vocal culture...
The most beautiful, almost classic pieces of Hungarian folk-music, fine instrumental solos, fortes and pianos, a tremendous orchestral sound... A glorious and inspired scene.
The Hungarian Concerto is a new performance of a new world.
First Performance: 29. November 2006., Palace of Arts - Festival Theater, Budapest
Part One - From Father to Son
Prologue: Hommage à Béla Bartók
Memory of the „journey"
Scenes along the River - jumping dance and csardas from Sárköz region, Western Hungary
Hungarian verbunk and csardas - Szatmár, Eastern Hungary
Gypsies - crook dance, csingerálás and csardas - Nyírség and Transylvania
Clap dance - Men's dance and couple dances from Eastern Hungary
Turn dance and csardas - Bonchida, Transylvania
Men's dances - Kalotaszeg and Szék, Transylvania
Together on the „journey" - Moldavia
Part Two - Our Treasures
A couple - Zobor region, Highland
Jumping dances and csardas - Bodrogköz region, Northern Hungary
Dance for Voice and Tárogató - Abaúj region, Highland
Girls' round dance - Abaúj region, Highland
Shepherds - Zólyom region, Highland
A couple from Csíkszék - Transylvania
Circle verbunk and csardas - Rábaköz, Western Hungary
Epilogue: Hommage à Béla Bartók
