Budapest Xperience

The first ever Jewish Summer Festival, this culturally colorful week-long event, was organized in 1998 thanks to the initiation of the Budapest Jewish community. Internationally acclaimed artists and performers from Europe and around the globe have made the festival classier and increasingly popular each year, appealing to both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences. By now, the event has become a forum for the representatives of art coming from different cultural backgrounds. Its main goal is to draw attention to lesser known aspects, genres, and styles of a diverse cultural palette and to emphasize how essential it is for different communities to be able to live in peace with each other.

So, dubbed a ‘Festival for a Peaceful Coexistence’, the Jewish Summer Festival has, by now, become one of the milestones on Hungary’s (or even Europe’s) festival map. Apart from the Dohány Street Synagogue – Europe’s largest and, undoubtedly, one of its most spectacular synagogues – as the festival’s central location, there are several other historically-culturally fascinating buildings that will be the proud hosts of the event. The recently renovated Frankel Leó Street Synagogue and the Rumbach Street Synagogue, which just reopened after 50 years, are both sights to be seen in themselves. And now that they’re jam-packed with exciting cultural events, they’re definitely a must-visit.

And some of the highlights? On August 30th, the Sephardic Magic concert, featuring internationally acclaimed young singer, Bea Palya, will open the series of performances in the Dohány Street Synagogue. The evening with reveal a selection of Spanish, Bulgarian and Turkish Sephardic songs that have been assembled especially for the 12th Jewish Summer Festival.

The August 31st concert by Cuban singer Elsa Valle and the Latin Jazz Syndicate is a must for lovers of jazz, Latin fusion and Mediterranean melodies. On September 1st, Nikola Parov and his band will enchant the audience with an exceptional Balkan Klezmer program. The program also includes celebrated artist Katica Illenyi’s klezmer and jazz concert. On September 2nd, the Timna Brauer and Elias Meiri Ensemble will introduce a real music treat, entitled Songs from Jerusalem.

The Budapest Klezmer Band – an ever fave of audiences – has by now become a traditional highlight of the festival. Their concert on September 3rd will include special guests Shai Abramson and the Judrom band, an ensemble of excellent Roma and Jewish musicians.

The annual Cantor Concert will be hosted by the recently renovated Frankel Leó Street Synagogue this year. The cantor concert will mark the festive opening of the rejuvenated synagogue and feature the Israeli Army’s highly esteemed Chief Cantor Shai Abramson, Chief Cantor László Fekete, Imanuel Zucker and pianist Zoltán Neumark.

The Urania National Film Theater won’t stay silent, either. The festival’s permanent star guest, flutist Eszter Horgas, will mesmerize the audience with a selection of the acclaimed Argentinean accordionist and composer, Astor Piazzolla’s works. As an extra twist, his music will be combined with traditional Jewish music and the result will be, we assure you, a lively, passionate perfromance.

The Israeli Compas Dance Ensemble promises a one-of-a-kind experience for  dance lovers: flamenco with neo-classical ballet. On September 3rd, a flamenco drama will unfold, based on the controversial biblical story of King David and Bat-Sheba.

For nostalgia lovers, Retro Divas are at the ready for you, and in case that’s not enough, there will be a whole night dedicated to Hungarian legendary film diva, Katalin Karády dubbed ‘Desire is Singing’.

But it’s not all about music; think also poetry, dancing, photography, paintings, theater, even some gastro-affairs and a lot more. Just to mention a few names to whet your appetite even more, Robert Capa’s breathtaking exhibition Israel 1984 – the title speaks for itself; as well as Hanna Fluk’s or Dvora Bochman’s contemporary paintings or Zsuzsa Naszódi’s portraits are set to enchant.

Gozsdu Udvar (Gozsdu Court) will also join the festivalers with a three day long craftsman- and book fair, combined with fun, fun, fun events like a scholet party, klezmer concerts, or hits from the Fiddler on the Roof and old café chansons.

The Symbol Entertainment Center will also host the ultimate Jewish (and non-Jewish) youth party on September 3rd, the ‘Rande-Jew’, for all those interested in meeting people and learning about Jewish culture.

Symbol Budapest will hold a related gig on September 6th, featuring superstar singing siblings Linda, Benjamin and Viktor Király. In the spirit of tolerance and equality, it will be completely free.

Dates: August 30th - September 6th
Various locations, including Dohány utca Synagogue, Frankel Leó Synagogue, Symbol Budapest and more.
Tel.: +36.1.413.5531
www.jewishfestival.hu

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