Finest 2016 Summer eng

} Luxury in the heart of the city } Revived sports venues } Katinka HosszĂş, Queen of the pool } Jamie Oliver in the Buda Castle

2016. Vol. 2.

HUF 1 490 EUR 5

Enchanting Weddings in Budapest

The Five Star City G uide Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 1

2016.06.30. 19:21

22-23-24 JULY

Ticket hotline:

+36 1 266 20 40 +43 1 796 94 90

www.gpticketshop.hu www.gpticketshop.com

The F1 FORMULA 1 Logo, F1, FORMULA 1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX, MAGYAR NAGYDĂ?J and related marks are trade marks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula One group company. All rights reserved.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 2

2016.06.30. 19:21

1

Introduction

DEAR GUEST,

DEAR READER,

International interest in Budapest has grown steadily over the previous years, owing to Budapest’s exceptionally spectacular and dynamic development projects. Our capital city has maintained its position as a popular tourism destination, where exciting events take place one after the other throughout the year.

One only needs to think of our ever growing conference tourism market, this year’s world-class sporting events or the 2017 World Aquatics Championships.

The number of tourists visiting the city has grown by leaps and bounds as a result. On average, the number of tourists visiting our metropolis annually (20 million) is double the national population. Our organisation, the Budapest Festival and Tourism Center, considers it our key priority to cooperate with the city’s high-quality hospitality institutions, hotels and baths in welcoming tourists to our capital. Both the national and Budapest government have generously supported our endeavours in this area for years. We also look to the future with confidence and have specific plans to collaborate with the new Hungarian Tourism Agency.

The Hungarian capital is an exciting destination every season of the year, but it is during the summer months that Budapest can truly reveal her romantic side. Whether you visit for a romantic weekend with your partner or a wedding ceremony in a beautiful historic site, you will find yourself in the best location possible! The 2016 Budapest Summer Festival celebrates the Year of Romance, and visitors can spend unforgettable evenings beneath the open sky on Margaret Island or in Városmajor Park.

I consider it quite an honour to greet you within the pages of the summer issue of Budapest’s Finest. We can proudly state that Budapest has become one of Europe’s most popular capitals, owing to its unparalleled geographical location and exceptional attributes. One of the Hungarian capital’s most attractive qualities is that the old and new, the past and present coexist in perfect harmony. The sites that belong to the World Heritage and our historical relics are complemented by our ruin pubs, gastro-revolution and vibrant cultural life that ensure an unforgettable experience for people of all ages who visit our exceptional city. Although Hungarian tourism has achieved one success after another over the previous years, we cannot rest on our laurels if we wish for this trend to continue. The Hungarian Tourism Agency’s primary aim, in collaboration with the government and business figures, is to develop a new strategic plan so that in the near future Hungary (and therefore Budapest) will be even more prominently placed at the top of European and international charts. We consider it especially important to continually adjust to the latest trends in tourism, so that developments, programmes and events can be coordinated together to strengthen each other. At the Hungarian Tourism Agency, we believe that with a new strategy and approach we can further build on Hungary’s tourism successes, and that Budapest will always have something more and unique to offer than its competitors. Our goal is to outshine both Prague and Vienna...

Gusztáv Bienerth Hungarian Tourism Agency Government Commissioner

Teodóra Bán Director of Budapest Festival and Tourism Centre

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 1

2016.06.30. 19:21

2

CONTENTS

2016|Summer

4

Enchanting weddings in Budapest

Enchanting weddings in Budapest } 4 Weddings surrounded by history } 6 Timeless femininity } 10 Stylish yet comfortable } 12 Loving the moment } 14 Hotel Ritz-Carlton Budapest } 16 Silka salon on Andrássy Avenue } 20

Sport in Budapest } 24

28

Renewed sport venues in Budapest } 26 A true fairy tale - Katinka Hosszú } 28 On your marks! } 32 Race to the finish line } 34

A true fairy tale – Katinka Hosszú

City Guide } 36

40

From gas plant to knowledge park

52

A stroll through ancient history } 38 From gas plant to knowledge park } 40 The Paskál baths } 42 Bon Appétit! } 45 Jamie's Italian in the Buda Castle } 46 Leyla Kazim's Cutlery Chronicles } 48

Summer in the city } 50 The Park in the heart of the city } 52 The Queen of the Night returns as Violetta } 54 The guitar tapping genius } 56 Andrea Rost's encounters with Desdemona } 58 Sziget Festival 2016 } 60 Programme corner } 62

Park in the heart of the city – Margaret Island To see the location on the map, simply scan the QR code with your smartphone.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 2

2016.06.30. 19:21

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 3

2016.06.30. 19:21

Esküvô Pesten Photo © Misi Kondella

4

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 4

2016.06.30. 19:21

VĂĄrosliget

5

Enchanting weddings in Budapest For every couple, and especially the bride, a wedding is one of the most significant moments in their lives, which they have sometimes even planned for since childhood.

It must be perfect and must fulfil all the hopes attached to it, for it symbolises the first step toward starting a family. Surrounded by family and friends, the wedding seals the love between two people. But how will this perfect day come together if the bride and groom live in another country, or a different one from the guests, or if the wedding itself is planned in a different city or country, perhaps Budapest?

The weddings of hundreds of happy couples prove that everything is possible in the Hungarian capital, not only due to the city’s attributes and services, but also the professionalism of its wedding planners.

} The Banks of the Danube and the Buda Castle Quarter are part of a World Heritage Site

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 5

Amazing panoramas can be seen from the rooftop terraces of the hotels in Pest.

2016.06.30. 19:21

Enchanting weddings in Budapest

6

Weddings

in historical locations T ext : Szonja Somogyi • P hoto : Misi Kondella

Budapest has developed significantly over the previous few years, as its beautiful buildings are renovated one after another, such as the Castle Garden Bazaar.

Those international couples who say their vows in Hungary are unlikely to have come to Budapest ten years earlier.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 6

2016.06.30. 19:21

Enchanting weddings in Budapest

The city has become a jewel within Europe, with more programmes and festivals, and more and more learn of it. The quality of services has increased, since the staff of service providers and hospitality establishments speak English - Jelena Budai explained, who with her The White Project wedding planning and consulting company plans “big days” primarily for international or partially international couples in Budapest.

Dóra Helmeczi, the founder of Budapest Wedding, which was the city’s first wedding planning enterprise to focus on international guests, also feels that the city is now open to the world. She explains that over the previous two years Budapest has undergone significant changes, the city has become trendy, and with it destination weddings have also become popular.

Helmeczi added: “Although we’ve begun something and have

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 7

7

a good name across the world, the profession in Budapest is a seed that has only just begun to grow.

But we are on the right path.”

According to the experts, the couples traveling here primarily look for historical locations and special scenery, which they cannot or can only partially find in their home countries, but for much greater costs. What is also common is that the bride and groom are from different parts of the world, and choose Budapest as a third neutral wedding location to avoid any potential family disagreements.

“Three years ago in the Buda Castle, surrounded by its fairy-tale views, we held a two-day wedding with over a hundred guests for a Persian groom and Swiss bride born to a Hungarian father. The ceremony was held on the Savoy Terrace, with the reception organised in the Lions Court. Within these surroundings the couple desired nothing more. Due to the

2016.06.30. 19:21

Enchanting weddings in Budapest

8

A wedding reception hosted in the Museum of Ethnography’s spacious foyer.

unpredictable weather, we naturally kept in mind that the entire reception might have to be held indoors. Fortunately there was no need for it, but we were in constant contact with the adjacent Budapest History Museum as to whether they would have to prepare to host 200 guests,” Helmeczi recalled about one of her most exciting events.

In Budapest there is no obstacle towards renting one of the rooms in the National Library or the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library, should the couple who were formerly students here wish to recall the romance of their first meeting. When a young couple arrived at the Basilica for a circus wedding on the back of an elephant that had walked through the streets of the city, the world press reported on it.

Even if the bride and groom do not have emotional ties to the country, it frequently arises that they would like some small element of “Hungarianness” during the wedding. That is how the international dinner will feature foie-gras or Tokaj wines, and if they’re quite adventurous, then stuffed cabbage or goulash soup as well. “We will soon have a Swedish pair say their vows, and they will receive a unique drink to

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 8

toast with during the programme: a special, spicy cocktail decorated with red paprika to symbolise Hungary,” Budai revealed.

Planning a wedding for an international couple usually takes about a year, although in the past Budai has pulled together a Hungarian-Nigerian wedding in under two weeks. During this time the organisers are in constant contact with the pair, especially the fiancée. First and foremost they will personally scope the city, spending at least a day visiting the possible locations with the wedding planning party. In the near future, a couple from Brazil will visit Budapest solely for this reason. Following this, every possible communication channel is used: telephone, Skype, chat programs and video streaming – allowing them to be available virtually around the clock. There is a great need for this, since it is quite possible that the bride may live in a completely different time zone, so we need to be able to have these discussions with her whether it is in the middle of the night or day in Hungary.

There are also examples where the future couple have complete trust in Budai or Helmeczi, and

2016.06.30. 19:21

Enchanting weddings in Budapest Photo © Balázs Béli

9

simply ask them to “make it as you see fit, so long as it is romantic!” As a result of the excellent network developed by Budapest’s wedding planners, following the identification of the pair’s personalities they are completely prepared to organise on their own or for last minute solutions, and on request they can hire excellent videographers, photographers, decorators, hair stylists, makeup artists or DJs. If necessary, they can also draw from a wide variety of technical tools to fulfil the couple’s needs. According to the couple’s wishes, the wedding can be religious or civil, or for those who have already wedded in secret, a “pretend wedding” can also be held.

When the majority of wedding guests have travelled for days, from Canada, China or elsewhere, then quite obviously they will not merely spend just the weekend in the capital. On such occasions the wedding expands to several days, with the programme incorporating a dinner, a river cruise, city sightseeing, and a visit to the thermal baths that cannot be missed. Additionally, trips to the countryside and wine regions or the Danube Bend can also be added.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 9

There is also a way to address the stress that will mount for the bride as a result of the quickly approaching big day: the many beauty spas in Budapest that offer the chance to rest and relax.

The city is therefore not merely a gem on the Danube, but an Eden of sorts for those about to marry, where everything is possible and the wildest dreams can come true. “On one occasion I would really like to close off Heroes Square and under a glass tent throw a massive party for a couple,” Helmeczi confessed. “Then, I would feel content.” Budai also revealed some “modest” plans, such as hosting a wedding dinner in the middle of one of the bridges. Hungary’s wedding planners await both adventurous and conservative couples, those who want a spectacle or elegant romance alike.

Circus performer Merrylu Casselly and József Richter Jr., the director of the Hungarian National Circus, held their wedding at Saint Stephen’s Basilica.

Following the ceremony, Mambo the circus elephant transported them to the reception.

budapestwedding.com The White Project Weddings and Private Events

2016.06.30. 19:21

Enchanting weddings in Budapest

10

Timeless femininity

with a modern twist T ext : Szonja Somogyi • P hoto : Papp & Schneider

Dreamlike fluttering, light materials, sensual, nostalgic laces, quality raw materials, refreshing colours.

These descriptions are all characteristic of Daalarna Couture’s 100% handmade wedding gowns.

We discussed the “genre” of wedding gowns, being a bride, and insider secrets with Anita Benes, the founder and designer of the brand which is popular not only in Europe, but also in the United States and Australia.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 10

2016.06.30. 19:21

Enchanting weddings in Budapest At present there is a strong romantic trend characteristic of wedding gowns. “This is not to mean castle romance or princesses, but everyday, happy women. Delicate, airy and elegant dresses are now popular, which at once reveal a nostalgia for the previous century, a vintage atmosphere and a closeness to nature,” Bene explained. Two-piece dresses are once again fashionable, but not in terms of the corset and princess gown, but as the pairing of a lighter lace blouse or lace sweater with a light and delicate tulle or silk skirt. Crocheted lace is also a part of the romantic atmosphere, such as the retro lace evoking the atmosphere of the 1970s and 1980s, or hand-beaded laces.

“In wedding dress design, the most important factors are beauty, femininity and elegant appearance. Those values are consistent, they stand the test of time and are not necessarily tied to trends. Naturally, we keep current fashion styles in mind, its moods, and at times even surpass it, but a refined femininity is always at the fore.”

“We are primarily contacted by brides who already possess developed personalities. The types who have their own excellent sense of style, and who find what they are looking for with me. We have dresses that are graceful, girlish or charming, but we also have dresses that are diva-like and feminine, as well as very sexy or more modest”, Bene added, drawing on her 14 years of experience in the market.

11

through the night until dawn. “We usually advise the brides that they should select the bridal dress to be in a style and fashion that can be used for other occasions as well, such as for balls or as a cocktail dress.”

Perhaps every bride considers what they will do with the wedding dress after the big day if they purchase it? Transform it into an evening dress? Sell it, or keep it?” “As a designer and former bride, I think that there are moments throughout everyone’s life when one should not be practical! Today most of our memories exist only digitally, but we’ll still keep our children’s first shoes, since we need memories that we can hold in our hands. As opposed to the bridal dress, I believe the wedding dress should be packed in tissue paper, placed in a nice box for storage, from which it can be removed in 5-10 years. It is an incomparable memory,” Bene opined.

According to her own words, Bene’s work is inspired by other forms of art, such as opera, music and painting. Her latest collection Ballet was inspired by the ballerina’s world, or more specifically, the ballet Sleeping Beauty currently being staged in the Hungarian State Opera. “The duality that one can see through dance is what captured me. A delicate, airy, light and fairy-tale world is the product of amazing discipline, rigour and hard work. This is what I see with many women: they wage a tough fight, stand their ground like a man, but they let their environment only see their gentler side.”

There is a common point between using high-quality raw materials and technology: Daalarna only uses French or Italian lace, as well as light, beautiful materials. They do not use heavy or costume-like materials and use a lot of silk. Some of the Daalarna dresses use bold colours. In addition to white and ivory, one can find pinks and golds, and in the Flower collection, a sky blue dress with a printed design, with some having used it as an evening dress, while others for their wedding.

Many brides, upon seeing the collection, fall in love with one of the dresses, then have it tailored to match their age and figure. Sometimes it is merely the mood or style that strikes someone’s fancy, and a truly unique design and a one-off dress is created by taking into consideration the bride’s figure and the colour of her skin, hair and eyes. For this reason, the betrothed will travel to Budapest for just a day from the Netherlands, London, or elsewhere in Europe.

In Hungary, after midnight following the wedding dinner, the new bride will change into a more vibrantly-coloured, more loosely-fitted party dress. In this bridal dress (“menyecskeruha”), she will dance

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 11

Daalarna Budapest, District V., Alkotmány u. 16. daalarna.hu

2016.06.30. 19:21

Enchanting weddings in Budapest

12

Stylish yet

comfortable T ext : Ágnes Karcsay • P hoto : Enikô Várai

The uniqueness of Nóra Sármán’s wedding gowns is in her delicate blending of tradition with modern elements.

With each new collection her designs reflect the latest fashion trends, styles and innovations.

Sármán graduated from the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design by designing wedding gowns and enjoys using traditional preparation methods, such as hand-sewing, which only the smallest of workshops still perform to this day.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 12

Sármán personally inspects each dress before it leaves her shop, adding a personal touch herself, even if it is something small like adding a bit of lace because, despite her many responsibilities, this is where her passion lies.

Wilderness, the name of her 2016 spring collection, includes 16 wedding gowns, skirts and bodices, in addition to her ready-towear outfits. The collection, inspired by fairy-tale heroines, features hand-sewn delicate lace overlays, silk tulle, airy silhouettes, and colours such as powder gold and muted blue that are new to the designer’s wedding gowns, making them very unique.

2016.06.30. 19:22

Enchanting weddings in Budapest

13

When designing the dresses that are made of French and Italian materials, an important consideration was to ensure that the parts evoking a medieval feel (puffy sleeves, special weaving, elongated silhouettes) should not compromise the dress’ modern look and comfort, guaranteeing that the bride would still feel as if she was in a summer dress. (There is no need to forego the train either, since it can be solved in a way where the wearer still feels comfortable.)

“The key point is for the bride to be herself at the wedding, that’s why it is so important that her outfit be comfortable,” Sármán added.

“It should be unique and one that expresses her individuality.” The gowns are always tailored to each individual, taking into consideration the bride’s figure and requirements, but creating totally unique dresses not found in the collection is also possible.

According to the designer, within every woman there are images and feelings regarding the big day, which may derive from fairy-tales or royal wedding photos. The Wilderness collection, for which Pinewood Weddings created an

amazing campaign video, specifically tries to call upon these deeply hidden moods. Wedding gowns were initially just an addition to complete her collections or custom ordered from the Nora Sarman brand, which began in 2010, but as of last year the first wedding collection, Peak of Romance, was launched.

Pinewood Weddings & Nóra Sármán pinewoodweddings.com

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 13

2016.06.30. 19:22

Your dream wedding in Budapest

14

Loving the moment Wedding Photography and cinematography T ext : Szonja Somogyi

Wedding photos and video styles have changed over the previous years, becoming their own genre of art that constantly reinvents itself, while showcasing a wide variety of events that are nonetheless based on the same subject. Budapest, with its many charms, provides the picturesque backdrop.

András Studinger is considered the founder of Hungarian wedding cinematography and together with the photographer Misi Kondella, the two have amassed considerable experience despite their young age. They have worked on more than a hundred weddings (separately and together), providing excellent quality services to those tying the knot in Budapest.

“A new way of recording motion pictures appeared a few years ago, which fundamentally changed filming from the world of sports to commercials and even weddings. The documentary style formerly used at weddings was replaced with wedding films, or rather “wedding cinematography”, Studinger explained. Together with his wife Orsolya Pánczél, he has recorded the big day of Hungarian and international couples in various environments, fulfilling all sorts of requests.

Photo © Misi Kondella

The film they produce has a similar role to the photos shot by Kondella. The moments they capture reveal the day’s essence,

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 14

2016.06.30. 19:22

Photo © MTVA / Balázs Mohai

Your dream wedding in Budapest

Photo © Misi Kondella

and instead of showing the events linearly, emotions and details come to the fore: the brushed aside teardrops, a romantic moment or an intimate wink. That is how each wedding film becomes unique, despite mostly sharing the same “screenplay”.

As the famous Hungarian filmmaker Miklós Jancsó, who passed away in 2014 observed about his work: “To capture the same theme, and produce it again and again, but differently each time, that is indeed a difficult task. This is our profession.” Wedding cinematography has become a significant genre, with 500-900 weddings “arriving” to Budapest each year.

A portion of the international brides and grooms who choose Budapest do so because one of them is of Hungarian descent, but the numbers of those who have simply fallen in love with the city and have no Hungarian heritage is growing. Some have only heard of the Hungarian capital’s beauty and exceptional cost-value ratio, as well as those world travellers who

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 15

15

feel at home anywhere and therefore choose a neutral site for their wedding. With destination weddings popular in other countries, Budapest has also become popular, joining the ranks of such cities as Paris, Dubai, London, Venice or even New York.

“The city is the primary reason, for its beauty is on par with any other city. Another important perspective is that there are more and more direct flights to Budapest from Europe and Asia for the entire wedding party to take. And what makes the city unique in the region is the attractions one can involve. While renting an institution in Vienna will include running into obstacles, the Museum of Ethnography can easily be rented for a day.

It would be difficult to organise a reception on the Zócalo (Mexico City’s main square), but in Buda Castle, one can say the word “yes” on the Savoy Terrace. There are many locations, some of them world heritage sites, which can be part of the reception or a filming location,” Studinger added.

According to Kondella, Hungary’s famous hospitality also draws people to the city: Budapest’s professionals offer quality services and there are no language barriers either. As he revealed, one of his upcoming jobs will be to photograph the wedding of a British couple from London, who wished to tie the knot abroad. After visiting Bucharest, Budapest and Prague, they decided that only the Hungarian capital would do.

Budapest has seemingly everything: a vintage atmosphere, French romance, a metropolitan, urban environment, with the past still visible in the Castle, a river promenade, bridges and islands, Kondella continued. “Budapest is a small Paris, a small London, with both the romance of the countryside and the vibrant life of the city”.

This could be the reason why many, even if they do not hold their weddings here, nonetheless visit Budapest for the creative photography it offers. The film-photo team has previously accompanied a pair who arrived from China, who shot their marriage photos here. After taking romantic photos at numerous points of the city, among them Vajdahunyad Castle, Heroes’ Square and in Buda Castle, they travelled home, taking the sights, sounds and flavours of the city with them in their memories.

studingerfilms.com

kondellamisi.hu

2016.06.30. 19:22

Enchanting weddings in Budapest

16

Modern luxury in the heart of the city

Elegance, dignity and beauty. Not to mention cultural and architectural history. That is something that cannot be said for many buildings, but Budapest can now say it for one of its own, for a stone's throw from the Danube, in the middle of the shopping and cultural districts, the renowned The Ritz-Carlton chain has opened its first Hungarian hotel with 170 rooms, 30 luxury suites and many more additional services.

T ext : Júlia Szászi P hoto : The Ritz-Carlton

This extraordinary building was renovated by experienced planners and contractors who made the façade appear unchanged, removing all of the marks that 20th century history left on it.

The elegant building was erected between 1914-1918 according to plans by Emil Tôry and Móric Pogány for the Adria Insurance Company, taking into account the era’s greatest architectural requirements. As the Adria Palace, it housed premodern offices and 15 luxury flats. The ten impressive statues carved from Pucišca marble on the façade represented the company’s ten insurance branches.

The Deák Ferenc Street façade features the symbols of guaranty (a man with a locomotive) and term insurance (a woman with a box), while the Deák Square façade features statues for cargo insurance (Mercury) and glass insurance (a woman with a pitcher). The Erzsébet Square façade is decorated with statues for home and burglary insurance (a man with a goose), dowry

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 16

2016.06.30. 19:22

Photo: © kozterkep.hu

Enchanting weddings in Budapest

17

insurance (a woman with valuables), ice insurance (a female figure) and fire insurance (Saint Florian).

The side facing Miatyánk Street has statues for life insurance (with a Parca cutting the thread of life) and accident insurance (a man dressing a wound).

The grandiose Adria Palace is a listed building to this day, with the statues renovated according to their original forms.

And there was plenty that needed renovation. A bomb strike during World War II left serious damage, and it was only patched together with substandard work in the late 1940s, although to be fair, since the building became the Budapest Police Headquarters, there was little need for pomp or elegance. The building continued deteriorating as an office block until 1997, when renovation works began, and in 2000 it reopened as the Le Méridien Budapest luxury hotel, although this was only the start on the path towards becoming the “gold standard” that it has now achieved.

Sixteen years later, it is a luxury property with 170 elegantly appointed rooms and 30 suites. While many of the building’s original architectural details have been retained, the interiors offer guests a spacious and relaxed contemporary environment, inspired by the The Adria Insurance Company’s headquarters in 1917.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 17

2016.06.30. 19:22

Enchanting weddings in Budapest Photo © Tomas Opitz

18

The five star hotel’s rooms meet the greatest requirements guests may have, regardless of whether their Budapest visit is for business or pleasure.

cool colours and swirling water of the Danube River.

The Ritz-Carlton Club Level is situated on the 8th and 9th floors of the property, allowing guests an elevated experience and an additional sanctuary, with dedicated concierge, plus complimentary food and beverage presentations running throughout the day.

Photo © vdArtphoto

The Kupola Lounge, situated beneath the building’s iconic stained glass cupula and grand crystal chandelier, is ideally placed for a leisurely breakfast or light lunch. The Kupola Bar combines sleek finishes

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 18

with the building’s uncovered original architectural columns. The impressive location can also host weddings.

The hotel has other things to offer for those about to marry: customised menus assembled according to the couples’ wishes, creative wedding cakes, each uniquely prepared by The Ritz-Carlton Budapest confectionary, or an extraordinary present, such as a suite for the wedding night or an anniversary dinner.

The hotel also adds two new restaurants and a bar to Budapest, one of which is the Deák Street Kitchen, which provides a relaxed and atmospheric environment. It serves a variety of Hungarian-inspired dishes, created using local seasonal ingredients, and freshly grilled meat and fish, alongside one of the city’s finest selections of indigenous Hungarian wines and beers. It also has an elegant outside terrace overlooking vibrant Fashion Street, with its designer stores and colourful market.

The property’s facilities are completed with the ballroom, situated on the lower ground floor. Seating 180 people and the perfect new Budapest location for milestone celebrations, it is adjacent to five flexible meeting rooms, which combine contemporary interiors with state of the art technology.

2016.06.30. 19:22

Enchanting weddings in Budapest

The ground-floor Kupola Lounge receives natural light through the cupola at the top of the internal courtyard.

19

The Deak St. Kitchen awaits guests with comfort evoking the 1920s.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa and Fitness Centre, flooded with natural light on the top of the building, creates an unrivalled haven for guests to unwind, recharge or simply escape. This urban spa, with indoor pool and three treatment rooms, offers a full range of beauty and body therapies, including The Ritz-Carlton signature treatments, and sits alongside a professionally equipped fitness centre. The services are the kind that Budapesters have never experienced before.

It is no accident that The Ritz-Carlton’s leadership chose Budapest for their newest location. Herve Humler, President and Chief Operations Officer said “Budapest is an extraordinary city and perfectly placed to welcome the newest property in our portfolio.” He praised the city’s amenities and unique atmosphere, all of which, combined with the high-quality services that are The Ritz-Carlton’s trademark, are a recipe for success.

The Ritz-Carlton Budapest Hotel Budapest, District 5., Erzsébet tér 9-10. ritzcarlton.com

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 19

2016.06.30. 19:22

Enchanting weddings in Budapest

20

Made in Budapest: Hugh Jackman’s dinner jacket

Photo © Budapestinfo / István Práczky

T ext : József Gyüre

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 20

From world-famous actors to popular athletes and television presenters, more and more celebrities are seeking out and wearing Silka’s latest outfits.

Having conquered the domestic market, the Hungarian luxury brand is set to make a name for itself worldwide

2016.06.30. 19:22

Enchanting weddings in Budapest

Photo © silkafashion.hu

21

The Silka story is relatively recent. In May 2012, an agile Hungarian businesswoman decided to open an exclusive clothing salon in Hévíz, a town internationally famous for its healing waters, which is particularly popular with wealthy Russian tourists. When she launched her store, Ágnes Kanizsai drew primarily upon her own experiences: buying clothes was like torture for her. Since the ready-to-wear sizes were never tailored in a way that best fit her figure, Kanizsai could not find clothes that did not require adjustments by a seamstress. “What fit in the chest was usually not right around my waist, or just the opposite.”

Women’s size 41 shoes also had nothing for her, and even if she did locate a pair she liked, the matching purse was impossible to find, despite the much time and energy poured into locating one.

Ágnes Kanizsai hosted notable figures from the Hungarian fashion world at the “style dinner” held in front of Silka’s Andrássy Avenue salon.

When a business takes off

“Russian women have precise and refined tastes. They look for high quality in everything. If ten ladies from St. Petersburg enter my salon, nine of them will not leave empty handed. Even the majority of visitors from Moscow purchase something,” Kanizsai said. As the husbands did not want to be left out by their wives, who were full of praise for the clothes, Kanizsai decided to expand. Thinking as a woman,

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 21

Photo © silkafashion.hu

It was only natural therefore for Kanizsai to open a dress salon where other women who face similar challenges buying clothes can browse dresses created by eight fashion designers, as well as the trendiest accessories. And for Silka, what they say is true: once a store gets going, there’s no stopping it. Six months after opening, Kanizsai was planning a men’s collection.

Silka’s items are prepared from excellent quality, select materials

2016.06.30. 19:23

Enchanting weddings in Budapest

Opening on elegant Andrássy

Photo © Budapestinfo / István Práczky

22

The exclusive evening dresses are hand-sewn and adjusted to the buyer’s figure.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 22

Buoyed by success, Kanizsai decided in 2014 that it was time to conquer the Hungarian capital.

On Budapest’s most elegant boulevard, Andrássy Avenue, she opened a new store in the same building, where once upon a time Capsula and the Dolce&Gabbana brands had resided. Before opening her Budapest store, however, Kanizsai had two requirements. First, if she could walk the length of Andrássy Avenue and fashionably dress herself from head to toe, then there would be no need to open the store. “I would not stand a chance next to large international brands,” she thought. The second was financial, and she decided that she would not be willing to rent a store above a certain price.

She did the “test shopping” and was unable to find shoes, a purse or dress to meet her tastes. (The only thing to really catch her eye was a 900,000 forint cashmere cardigan.) It was obvious: Silka would have to open a store in Budapest.

and a wife who knows men and her husband in particular very well, she realised, “there is no suit a gentleman would be prepared to go up even a flight of stairs for.” There was no other solution than to add a panorama lift to the upstairs section for the men.

The work was performed at night while the store operated undisturbed during the day. Although the suits were only produced in dark blue, black and dark grey, they were tailored in a variety of styles catering to short and tall men, those with sporty builds and those without. The raw materials, just as in the case of the women’s line, came from the finest international (English, Spanish and Italian) textile factories.

When we visited the Budapest salon, one of the fashion designers was preparing sketches for the autumn collection, while Ádám Bihari, the head of the men’s department was offering style tips to a writer from a fashion magazine. Tibor Kanizsai, Ágnes’s son, took us around the building. We looked at the enormous dressing rooms, wandered through the men’s section, crossed the foyer where fashion shows are held and took a peek inside the sewing room, where young seamstresses were hard at work.

This is how a “reimagined” high-class tailor’s in Pest looks like. “I can barely name a place where you can at once buy ready-to-wear clothing, partially or completely handmade dresses and the accessories to go with them,” Kanizsai proudly exclaimed. For regular guests who make an appointment, the Silka salon will even close its doors to guarantee their undivided attention. This makes perfect sense as Silka counts among its customers such names as the Australian actor Hugh Jackman and the American tennis champion André Agassi, although it is true that Jackman has never actually visited the shop. “He arrived in Budapest to shoot a commercial, and our master tailor only met him once. His assistant sent his measurements ahead of time, and Silka’s head tailor prepared everything in advance. But even then he only had half an hour after the actor arrived at his hotel a few minutes before midnight. He was barely able to try it on and the dinner jacket had to be ready the next morning by 9.30,” Kanizsai revealed.

As far as Hungarian celebrities are concerned, Kanizsai is much more tight-lipped. These are the celebrities who can buy international brands in Paris or London, but have to avoid displaying their wealth. “They cannot wear clothes with a tag that might give them away, and cannot show the world their success,

2016.06.30. 19:23

Enchanting weddings in Budapest

Attention to the fabric

Silka also takes after-sales customer care very seriously. Since the company’s clothes are prepared from special, high-quality materials, they ask their customers that the evening gowns, cocktail dresses and suits are not taken to dry cleaners as they are afraid they will be ruined. At Silka, cleaning is included in the price and part of their guarantee, as are later adjustments. “It is entirely natural that a person’s figure will change over time. If necessary, we can adjust the clothes as far as the materials will allow. We would like our customers to only wear Silka outfits if they fit perfectly.” Kanizsai is already planning to expand abroad, and after opening shops in Spain and Russia, a store in Dubai could be possible on the Mall, next to Chanel, Tom Ford or Brioni. Then the Hungarian luxury brand could really show off.

Photo © Budapestinfo / István Práczky

but the positions they hold in business or society demand that they wear fashionable clothes,” she added.

23

Silka Fashion Budapest Budapest, District VI., Andrássy út 9. silkafashion.hu

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 23

2016.06.30. 19:23

Photo Š Marcell Katona

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 24

2016.06.30. 19:23

Sport

city Budapest “Construction site” signs have popped up all over Budapest in recent years as largescale projects have taken off across the city to build or renovate various sporting facilities.

Some of them are even worthy of being called architectural works of art.

Even if they’re not exactly spreading like wildfire, more and more sporting facilities are opening across Budapest. More specifically, these are facilities that can also host sports, as the trend today is for multi-functional arenas suitable for football matches as well as concerts, conferences, masquerade balls and even weddings.

} The Groupama Arena in Ferenváros

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 25

The arena is the home of Ferencvárosi Torna Club (FTC), and also hosts international matches and concerts.

2016.06.30. 19:23

Sport city Budapest

26

What does the present offer, what does the future hold?

Upgraded sporting venues in Budapest But, for now, let us stick to sports and primarily football (soccer).

T ext : Tibor Pietsch

The multi-purpose There are of course also those staTüskecsarnok (Thorn diums where simply calling them Arena) is the favourite first class would be insulting, such sports facility on the as the Groupama Arena. There can Lágymányosi Campus. be no doubt that this jewellery box at Üllôi Road 129 elevated the FerBudapest’s storied encváros club’s pitch to among the football club MTK will most modern in Europe. In numinaugurate their new arena this summer. bers: the building, officially opened with a friendly match between Ferencváros and Chelsea on 10 August 2014, has a capacity of 23,700 (reduced to 22,000 for international matches). The VIP section has a wealth of services, with 33 skyboxes on two levels, 1,240 VIP Gold and 994 VIP Bronze seats. There is room for 370 vehicles in the underground parking area, two scoreboards that are 63 square metres in size hang from the walls, and 220 LCD screens operate around the ground. There is an FTC gift shop and museum, as well as a restaurant and café. It is no wonder that when Chelsea visited, then manager José Mourinho

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 26

was impressed by the building, and if someone like him found the stadium to his liking, then everything was in order.

The Hungarian national football team has also played at the stadium during the ensuing period. Additionally, the arena is a good luck charm of sorts, for it is where the national team won the chance to play in the Euro 2016 tournament. The national team’s earlier base, the Ferenc Puskás Stadium, would have been problematic. Dedicated as the Népstadion (Peoples’ Stadium) on 20 August 1953 in a match between Budapest Honvéd and Spartak Moscow, the stadium had over the previous decades decayed to the point that sections could not be opened to the public. Its renovation could not be delayed any further, and after several farewell matches, demolition works began in 2016 on the stadium that had hosted concerts by Louis Armstrong in 1965, Queen in 1986, the Rolling Stones in 1995, and Metallica in 2010. After hundreds of fantastic football matches (including England’s worst ever defeat) and sensational athletics competitions, in March the bulldozers turned those memories to dust.

Once the Hungarian national team moves back into the stadium, there will be space for 63,000 people to watch the match in person. The stadium will not only be for football lovers, however, as it will hold up to 70,000 for concerts and also operate as a conference and multi-function events centre. From when?

Photo © Medmix Center

Photo © Márk Korecz

The Ferenc Szusza Stadium in Újpest was recently renovated and will be renovated again in the coming months, while work is also expected to begin soon on the József Bozsik Stadium in Kispest, just as it will on the Rudolf Illovszky Stadium in Angyalföld. There can be no disagreement that all these buildings were in need of a facelift, so that the visiting fans will know that not only the match, but also their surroundings are top flight.

2016.06.30. 19:23

Sport city Budapest

Photo © www.mnsk.hu

27

Following eight months of demolition work, construction is expected to begin in December 2016.

According to the plans, the new stadium will be completed in 2019. There is no room for delays, as the New Ferenc Puskás Stadium has been selected to host three group matches and one quarter final during the Euro 2020 tournament.

Photo © MTVA / István Ruzsa

MTK Budapest’s brand new arena will be dedicated far sooner, at the latest by 16 September this year.

Many visitors will arrive from Portugal, for the first ceremonial match on 21 September will be a friendly between MTK and Sporting CP. The arena will be able to hold up to 5,322 spectators for the event. It is worth nothing that training facilities are being built next to the stadium, meaning that the club’s youth development program will have a new home as well.

Across the river in Buda stands the Tüskecsarnok (Thorn Arena), which had an uncertain fate for years. Originally built in 1993 for the 1995 Austro-Hungarian World Expo, the event never took place and development was halted. For a long time, it stood as an embarrassing reminder, before finally opening in November 2014. Since then, it has hosed East-West All Star basketball games, table tennis World Tour competitions and international ice hockey matches. In March 2016, the Tüske pool also opened.

And let us “bathe” in the happiness: the Aquatic World Championships originally scheduled for 2021 will be held in 2017.

This is due, in part, to Guadalajara withdrawing and Hungary (Budapest and Balatonfüred) stepping up to take its place, with the main site being the newly built Dagály Swimming Complex.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 27

The opening ceremony will be held The enormous Ferenc Puskás Stadium built in on 14 July 2017 on the section of the the 1950s and named Danube in front of the Castle Garden the “People’s Stadium” Bazaar, with the Császár-Komjádi will be rebuilt in 2019.

Sports Pools and the Alfréd Hajós National Swimming Stadium to be refurbished for the water polo events. We can also be sure that the high diving events located across the Danube from parliament will offer a sensational spectacle. The City Park Ice Rink will also be converted to host the synchronised swimming events.

Only the open water swimmers will miss out, since they will have to race in Lake Balaton, which is not a bad substitute at all in the summertime.

2016.06.30. 19:23

Sport city Budapest

28

A Ttrue fairy tale Q P he

ueen of the ool is an Iron Lady

Photo © MTVA / Anikó Kovács

T ext : Erika Kovács

The girl from Baja. That is where she learned to swim, began her career, and no matter where she finds herself in the world, she mentions her home city by the Danube. As a child in Baja, she dreamt that one day she would be a great swimmer, standing on the Olympic podium.

Although she has yet to achieve the latter, Katinka Hosszú is already considered one of the world’s best swimmers.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 28

2016.06.30. 19:23

She just stood there, looking out into the distance with no idea why things turned out how they did.

She had no answers, but did not avoid questions either. This was July 2011, where nothing came together at the World Championships in Shanghai.

Two years earlier at the World Championships in Rome, she won gold in the 400m individual medley, and, a year later at the European Championships in Budapest, she had won gold in the 200m individual medley and 200m butterfly, and was a part of the gold-winning 4x200m freestyle relay. Of course, she had given her fans a scare after “only” winning the silver in the 400m individual medley to start the championships. At the time, she said she did not want to peak too soon and that her American coach, Dave Salo could only coach her via email over the previous few days. Among the Hungarian team, the opinion was forming that Hosszú would need to return to Hungary to train for the London Olympics as an American trainer would never prepare her to compete against his own country as he should. Katinka Hosszú nonetheless trusted her coach and returned to America.

London Olympics is the stuff of fairy tales. There’s blood, toil, tears and sweat, but it’s nonetheless a fairy-tale.

29 Katinka Hosszú accepting her Athlete of the Year Award at the 16th Story Magazine Five-Star Awards held in the Corinthia Hotel Budapest in 2015.

Katinka Hosszú’s gold medal-winning swim in the 200m backstroke at the 2016 European Aquatics Championships held in London earlier this year.

Photo © MTVA / Anikó Kovács

“We discussed what happened in Shanghai, and will continue to work together,” she said from across the ocean.

As to what happened at the Olympics, we all know: on the first day day of the Olympics, Hosszú only came fourth in the 400m individual medley. “My fourth-place finish in London was the best thing that happened to me!” Hosszú has said in the years since. And there is truth to it, for what happened after the

Photo © MTVA / Balázs Mohai

Sport city Budapest

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 29

2016.06.30. 19:23

Sport city Budapest

Photo © MTVA / Anikó Kovács

30

Zsuzsanna Jakabos, Boglárka Kapás, Evelyn Verrasztó and Katinka Hosszú, who comprised the gold medal-winning women’s 4x200m freestyle relay team at the 2016 European Aquatics Championships.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 30

2016.06.30. 19:23

Sport city Budapest Photo © MTVA / Anikó Kovács

31

Lifted by love

Katinka Hosszú began her studies at the University of Southern California in the autumn of 2008. A few months later, love entered her life when she met Shane Tusup, a member of the university’s swim team. In fact, he and Hosszú both swam in lane 1 each day. Tusup almost immediately fell for the Hungarian girl’s smile. For Hosszú, it took some time as she did not speak English well enough to understand everything, so it was a while before they went on their first date.

But as her English skills improved, nothing could stand in the way of their love. The feelings between the two became serious. So much so, that, following the London Olympics, Tusup, who had stopped swimming owing to injury and who worked as Dave Salo’s assistant, decided that it was time for him and Hosszú to move to Hungary.

} Her empire Katinka Hosszú’s name has become a concept, not limited to the swim-

ming world. The five-time world champion was first called the Iron Lady by the Chinese after she won race after race. In the Short Course World Championship, she participated in 12 events during a two-day competition. Hosszú came to like the nickname so much that she teamed up with her husband Shane Tusup to build an “empire” around the Iron Lady brand, including her own swimming collection, sports attire and motivational book. Hosszú has also achieved success as a businesswoman. Her achievements in the pool led to FINA naming her Female Swimmer of the Year in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, Forbes magazine listed Hosszú as the most valuable Hungarian athlete, which reveals her other accomplishments too as this ranking considers not only sporting achievements, but also the number of followers on social media, sponsorship deals, and how much of a “product” she has become on the market.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 31

Katinka Hosszú in a preliminary heat for the women’s 400m medley at London’s Aquatics Centre.

Immediately after the Olympics, Hosszú and Tusup began planning the upcoming four years. The results speak for themselves: following 2009’s World Championship gold, she won gold in the 200m individual medley at the World Championships in 2013 and 2015. Hosszú is a nine-time European champion, and has won six gold medals in the 2015 European Short Course Championships.

After setting new world records in the short course, she fulfilled her dream of breaking the 200m individual medley world record in Kazan in 2015.

Following her dreams

Success has not brought with it only fans – some people have viewed her and Tusup, who have been married since August 2013, with a wary eye. They cannot understand how someone can perform such inhuman work each day (since the London Olympics, Hosszú has permitted herself ten days of rest), and how someone can be so professional and develop so much.

Hosszú has prepared so that nothing can take her by surprise in Rio. Although she said at the World Championships in Kazan: “A world record means more to me than a gold medal. It shows that I was not merely the best in that race, but also that no one has ever swum faster than me,” no one should doubt that she is prepared to fulfil her other childhood dream. The one she dreamed back as a little girl in Baja. And for which she’s spent the past four years preparing.

2016.06.30. 19:23

Sport city Budapest

32

On your marks!

A summer of sport in Budapest

T ext :

tibor

Pietsch

Photo © mikropo.hu

Budapest will be all about sport this summer. June will see the 2016 UEFA European Championship, while August sees the turn of the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Should you find yourself in Budapest at this time, it is worth finding the places where people congregate to cheer for Hungary or their own country.

The mood will be festive, so it promises to be a great experience.

One of the most popular leisure activities in Budapest during the summer is to watch sporting events in the popular and historic sites around the city.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 32

“It was worth it just for this” said Pál Dárdai, the football player turned coach who has made a name for himself in Hungary and Germany.

Why? “Because ever since the 1986 World Cup, Hungarian football fans have not had the opportunity to root for their national team at a significant world tournament,” said the former national head coach who launched the team on its way to the tournament in France. “Whenever a European Championship was held over the past 30 years, Hungarian fans have worn German, Spanish or English colours, and maybe even

those of Brazil or Argentina during the World Cup. They sat in front of the television, hoping one of their international favourites would score. This summer, those even only mildly interested in football can wear the Hungarian national team’s red jersey for weeks either in France or in a Budapest pub. And it will not be any different during the Olympics. Maybe it would be best for fans to simply put on our red white and green outfits in June and keep them on until the Olympic flame is extinguished at the end of the Rio games.”

We have to agree with the Hertha BSC head coach who came from Berlin to steer the Hungarian team back on track: it

2016.06.30. 19:23

was truly worth it. What is certain is that this summer will be different from those of the previous three decades. Paris will “move” to Budapest, as will Bordeaux (where Balázs Dzsudzsák and the team will face Austria in their first match), Marseille (against Iceland) and Lyon (where the Hungarians will compete against Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portuguese team). Before and during the matches, the atmosphere will be uplifting, so we recommend you immerse yourself into it, with plenty of places welcoming fans to watch the events. You can be certain that on 14, 18 and 22 June, the days of the Hungarian matches, some places will be packed shoulder to shoulder.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 33

In regards to the Olympic Games, we already know that of the locations listed above, the Champs Sport Pubs and Budapest Park will be showing the Rio games day and night. The same can be said of the Olympics as the Euro tournament: there’s no need to worry about finding somewhere to watch it.

By the time summer comes to a close, we will hopefully have seen a successful appearance in the Euro tournament and a large haul of gold, silver and bronze Olympic medals by the Hungarian team. But do not relax for too long, as the 2017 World Aquatics Championships will be hosted by Hungary next July, which will no doubt make another visit to Budapest worth your while.

Photo © Roland Pozsonyi

The question remains of where to go (take your place before kick-off, since arriving just in time for the national anthems guarantees no empty seats will be left). Just as the national team took until the playoffs to secure their spot, details on the best locations are not emerging too quickly either, with only limited information available when this magazine went to press. Although it cannot be said for certain, there is a high likelihood that the following locations will have big screens showing the action: Szabadság Square, Kobuci Kert, Dürer Kert, both Champs Sport Pubs, Erzsébet Square, Budapest Park, Zippp Klub on Margaret Island, and the City Park Ice Rink.

Let us stress that the list above is far from complete, and by the time the opening match kicks off between France and Romania on 10 June, televisions in nearly every restaurant will be tuned to channel M4 (the tournament’s broadcaster). Tourists can of course wear the jerseys of other teams, but as a helpful hint we would like to suggest avoiding Austrian colours on the 14th, Icelandic flags on the 18th, and the red and green of Portugal on the 22nd. In fact, should you wear a Hungarian jersey, do not be surprised if you are treated to a drink by locals.

33

Photo © Andrea Schmidt

Sport city Budapest

2016.06.30. 19:23

Race to the finish line T ext :

tibor

Photo Š Joerg Mitter / Red Bull Content Pool

Sport city Budapest

34

Pietsch

Sport enthusiasts will hardly have a chance to recover between the final of the UEFA European Championship on 10 July and the start of the Summer Olympics on 5 August. At least not in Budapest, for there will be all sorts of activities going on in the capital on land, sea and air as the events come thick and fast.

The excitement of the Red Bull Air Race ensures that those who have seen one race will return year after year to see the amazing airplanes race through the air with Budapest as the backdrop.

As a part of the world championships, the world’s best aerobatic pilots will visit Hungary, with the Budapest race held on 16-17 July above the Danube. This is not an everyday event, however, for the competition only features seven countries and eight races in total, with Austria, Great Britain, Germany and Hungary the only European stops.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 34

Beyond watching the planes cut through the air at 370 km/h around the 25 metre-tall gates, guests to the city can also take in its spectacular panorama. More than 20 million visitors arrive in Budapest annually, making this one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. The city is also frequently listed among the top ten destinations worldwide. The Red Bull Air Race draws in large numbers, with 650,000 watching the race from the Danube embankment in 2009.

In addition to the airplanes, race cars will also be the centre of attention this summer during the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand

2016.06.30. 19:23

Sport city Budapest Photo © James Moy

35

The Hungarian Grand Prix is one of Formula 1’s most popular European stops.

Photo © Miklós Ozsváth

Prix at the Hungaroring from 22-24 July. On Thursday the 21st, however, there will also be a special event allowing guests to visit the pits. More than 10,000 motor racing enthusiasts will contribute to this unique atmosphere as the world’s best drivers

Budapest will also host the IRONMAN 70.3 event on 30 July.

The course was developed to allow competitors to encounter the Danube, the Castle District, and the Chain Bridge, although it remains to be seen whether they will get the chance to admire the sights during the gruelling 1.9 kilometres of swimming, 90 kilometres of cycling and 21.2 kilometres of running, making 113 kilometres in total.

The incredible battle of body and mind will tire the athletes, but we have a solution.

After completing the event, they can relax in Budapest’s vibrant city centre with its eclectic ruin pubs, high-quality restaurants, or in the famous thermal baths, known for the rejuvenating properties of their water.

The IRONMAN 70.3 is being held in Budapest for the third time year.

take to the asphalt to entertain the crowds in the stands. Although we cannot reveal the names of the celebrities who will participate just yet, we are certain that it will be worth getting tickets for the Grand Prix in Mogyoród, which comes sandwiched between the races in Silverstone and at the Nürburgring.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 35

redbullairrace.com hungaroring.hu ironmanbudapest.hu

2016.06.30. 19:23

City Guide Photo © Mittecomm / Balázs Csizik

36

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 36

2016.06.30. 19:23

37

City Guide Tourists will undoubtedly experience no difficulty finding downtown Pest or the Buda Castle, for these are where elegant hotels lie, key junctions on Budapest’s transport network meet and naturally where the city’s bustling centres or architectural marvels are only a stone’s throw away. But it is also worth exploring a little further. For example, one can easily catch one of the new red trains from Nyugati Railway Station to Óbuda, allowing visitors to encounter the past, present and future seemingly all at once.

} The entrance to the Aquincum Museum The Aquincum Museum presents the history

and artefacts of Aquincum, the Roman settlement that existed on what is today Óbuda.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 37

2016.06.30. 19:23

City Guide

38

A stroll through ancient history with the help of modern technology T ext : Györgyi Orbán

Visitors to Aquincum will find a 2,000 year-old organ, a tablet of curses, wall paintings, mosaics, a virtual zone, and an excavation site. Budapest is the only European capital north of Rome with a significant amount of Roman heritage to display on a single connected site.

Aquincum was the capital of Lower Pannonia, and is the largest and best excavated Roman-era group of settlements in the region. The city once spread across 25 hectares, of which 10 hectares can be visited. The website helps visitors choose in advance what they would like to see, maps are also handed out at the ticket counter, and the buildings have explanatory plaques to facilitate navigation.

Become an archaeologist

According to Orsolya Láng, the museum’s director, the Aquincum Museum and Archaeological Park is not just a collection of old ruins and a museum, but also contains visual elements that go far beyond what the site offered 30 years ago, making it worthwhile to visit the archaeological park several times a year.

Expanding the ruin garden is currently not possible, but digs are constantly ongoing, including an excavation that has been ongoing for years on an area that was previously explored, but which for various reasons was not fully completed. A tanning workshop also operated in the glue-boiling house, the excavation of which is currently ongoing. The open dig is being performed in such a way that visitors can approach the archaeologists to ask questions, hold artefacts in their hands, and observe the work.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 38

It is reasonable to ask why it must be excavated again, when generations of archaeologists have dug on the site for the past 120 years. The reason is that a world of information has now been made available by technological advances, such as ground-penetrating radar, laser scanners, and isotope and DNA tests.

There is a significant likelihood of learning more than we did over the last century. With the help of modern technology, many minutiae can now be discovered, such as scattered animal bones and wall painting fragments, which make it possible to reconstruct a room’s interior decoration.

The Aquincum Museum opened in 1894 to exhibit the Roman-era artefacts discovered on Budapest’s territory. Today’s Rome in Aquincum permanent exhibition will showcase such hidden valuables that could previously not be appropriately displayed.

A sensational organ and curses from the pros

What makes the exhibition unique is the world-famous 2,000-year-old Aquincum organ found 75 years ago. The instrument’s remains were discovered during the foundational work of the building in which today the organ’s spare parts, structural reconstruction and a playable copy can be seen. According to Láng, organ remains have been discovered elsewhere, but those found here could be reconstructed on the basis of the many bronze parts that were found, making this an ideal artefact. The organ also featured an inscription with information that made it archaeologically identifiable. Additionally, the organ is interesting within the context of the history of Aquincum because there are other artefacts that mention the organ. Most significantly, a sarcophagus was found with text on it stating

2016.06.30. 19:23

City Guide Photo © Mittecomm / Balázs Csizik

39

The Minárovics reconstruction of the Aquincum organ.

Photo: wikipedia

that the woman buried inside it played the instrument, which at the time was a popular accompaniment to feasts, celebrations and gladiator games.

Another interesting facet of Aquincum is its Latin-language tablet of curses carved into a palm-sized lead disc, which was discovered and decoded in 2007. Since then, two other tablets have also been found, and there are others that were discovered earlier but only recognised during restoration work. It took years of painstaking work to read the tablets. These are very exciting artefacts as they provide information on the everyday beliefs of the common people that cannot be learned from the more familiar official beliefs of the Roman era. Casting curses was already a “profession” in 4th century BC Athens, and here is an example of one: “Gods of the underworld, I ask you to receive my complaint against Luxia, daughter of Aulus Antestius! May illness each day attack her heart, mind, health, life and every part of her body! If you do what I ask, I shall do as I pledge and for which I now prepare, for this is owed to you…”

The exhibition hall displaying relics from the governor’s palace which reveals its former grandeur contains restored mosaics from the palace that were not previously exhibited. The wall paintings, monumental statues and the building’s luxurious interior featuring a fountain can all be observed. The luxury of the former interior is revealed through the artefacts displayed in glass cases: the imported plates fashioned from bronze, glass or ceramic, and the gold and silver jewellery, all of which belonged to the governor.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 39

Become an archaeologist!

The museum has recently expanded to include new tourist-friendly elements, so a virtual space with motion-sensor games and a mythological playground awaits young and old alike. A playroom at the front of the virtual experience area was developed for the youngest visitors and comprises mosaic and artistic puzzles and mill and throwing games enjoyed by Roman children. The virtual area contains four interactive motion-sensor games, among them challenges with digging and gladiatorial themes. The foundation plans viewable in the current archaeological park reveal the site’s status at the turn of the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Visitors can view the forum located at the crossroads and the sanctuary, basilica and public bath that belonged to it. The city’s south-eastern and northern areas contained houses and workshops. Wealthy citizens and city officials built their lavishly decorated houses with sanctuaries and private baths further away from the noisy main road.

The site is one of the top archaeological parks for showing how the building was discovered while meeting modern expectations in terms of presentation. For this reason the ruin garden contains a chronoscope functioning as a set of binoculars. Looking into and moving the scope around makes it possible to see a reconstructions of a Roman house, with living quarters based on Roman designs. Lastly, a new lapidary also awaits guests.

Aquincum Museum Budapest, District III., Szentendrei út 135. aquincum.hu

2016.06.30. 19:24

City Guide

40

From gas plant to knowledge park T ext : József Gyüre P hotos : Mittecomm / Balázs Csizik

Silicon Valley in California grew around the world famous Stanford University as the business world aligned itself alongside education and research. In Budapest, the opposite is often the case, but how do tar-storage towers find themselves in the middle of a local knowledge park?

The former gas plant’s three tar storage towers are emblematic listed buildings along the Danube near Aquincum.

What do local and international young people arriving for the Sziget Festival have in common? Just like the tourists, very few local people know that there is a secret world hidden not far behind the hypermarkets: Graphisoft Park, where relics of the industrial past live in harmony with the technology of the future. Let us begin our historical adventure in turn-of-the-century Budapest.

Gyôzô Schön, experts from the Pest gas plant. The precondition was set that only Hungarian architects could plan the buildings. The plant’s architectural plans were drawn up by Kálmán Reichl, who used the Eclectic and Art Nouveau styles of the era, while Loránd Almási Balogh designed the nearby housing, official villas, schools, stores, greenhouses and sports facilities.

A modern approach to investment

This standalone investment reflecting a multi-faceted approach began in 1911 and continued for three years. The site was ceremoniously dedicated on the eve of World War I on 13 June 1914. The result was one of Europe’s most modern plants, which, in addition to fulfilling residential heating and cooking needs, also sold city gas for industrial purposes and public lighting. With the rapid spread of natural gas, pollution-heavy coal-based gas production became increasingly uneconomical, so the works were closed 70 years later in October 1984. The more important buildings, such as the dry cleaner, electrical centre and its water and tar storage towers were given

In 1908, Budapest responded to the city’s growing gas consumption needs by building a new gas plant on the edge of the city in Óbuda. At this time, the United States was one of the few other countries to use natural gas for heating and lighting. In Europe’s metropolises, including Budapest, city gas was used for lighting. The gas mixture was produced by igniting coal, and during production a number of separate and usable side products, such as tar, paint and charcoal were produced. Albert Weiss, the director of the Zurich gas plant, designed the plant’s technical aspects together with Izidor Bernauer and

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 40

2016.06.30. 19:24

City Guide

protected status. The Óbuda Gas Plant’s rebirth and the revitalisation of the site would commence 15 years later.

Expansion beyond a headquarters

Secrets surrounded the decaying buildings in the fenced off area. Beginning in 1997, the plant’s location was transformed with surprising speed. The site’s excellent amenities were first recognised by architectural design software company Graphisoft, which created a standalone knowledge centre and office park primarily for technological companies in

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 41

several phases. The listed buildings were purchased in 2008, and many among them have been renovated or modernised since 2010. Educational institutions that function to supplement the technological park are located inside these.

Graphisoft is one of the private companies that became internationally successful following the system change, and is commercially famous for its popular ArchiCAD software. The company first built a headquarters for itself, moving to the area in 1998, but its leadership knew that if you want to provide the world’s best architects with the world’s

41

The unused hangars have their façades decorated with the portraits of great Hungarian innovators.

One of Budapest’s most dynamically developing technological knowledge centres spreads across 16 hectares.

2016.06.30. 19:24

City Guide

42

ceutical company Servier also built a research laboratory here in 2007.)

The dynamic growth of the companies spurred continuous development at Graphisoft Park, which in 2006 was spun off from the software development company and that same year was listed on the Budapest Stock Exchange. Today, more than 80 companies have a presence on the 18 hectare park, and more than 3,200 employees work in the office buildings, not to mention the 1,000 students who attend the campus’s educational institutions. In addition to Microsoft, European software giant SAP’s development company also rents an office here and recently renewed its lease over a year before it expired.

Silicon Valley was the model

This giant statue of Ernô Rubik’s world-famous cube was created by the inventor himself in 2010.

The former gas plant’s worker residences are a fine example of the social responsibility felt by the former industrialists.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 42

best architectural design software, you have to make your surroundings as high-quality as possible. Graphisoft launched its own real estate development division and erected one new office building after another for the companies moving in. In addition to IT companies, biotech and pharmaceutical laboratories also set up operations, making Graphisoft the only company in Hungary with experience in establishing biotechnology research laboratories. (After Comgenex and AMRI, the French pharma-

According to the experts at Graphisoft Park, the “small Silicon Valley” concept drawn up 18 years ago has succeeded, proving that it is worth focusing on a select target group for real estate development – in this case, domestic and international technology development companies. The key to success was attracting talent, to which the park contributed with its high-quality, environmentally aware architecture and unparalleled quiet spaces. The site of the former Óbuda Gas Plant is dotted with old trees and the renovated listed buildings provide a magical backdrop.

The International Business School and the Aquincum Institute of Technology (AIT) are together responsible for attracting the talent.

2016.06.30. 19:24

City Guide

California’s Silicon Valley developed around the world-famous Stanford University, as the business world assembled next to education and research, in order to take inspiration and strength from the latest intellectual achievements. Stanford is known not only for its wonderful minds, but also for designating trends in knowledge and technology for the industry. In Hungary, AIT has followed a different order: education moved around industry and business. AIT does not wish to dictate the tempo, but instead serves the industrial and business world.

Based on this philosophy, the economy, which is in daily contact with the market, is in a better position to tap into the main directions of development than theoretical experts.

The programme was launched in 2010. So far, 50 universities and colleges in the United States have sent students to study at AIT for a semester accredited through the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. These include the most famous universities and colleges, such as Harvard, Yale, MIT, Princeton, Columbia, Williams, Carleton and Pomona. Upon completing the semester, most students participate in a 1-2 month summer internship at the most successful Hungarian IT companies (e.g. Prezi, LogMeIn, UStream). The students then spread news about the Hungarian IT industry abroad, with many of them returning to Hungary upon graduating to continue working at these companies. Students at the Budapest University of Technology participate in these training sessions for free, and enjoy the added value of making contacts and friends with the North American students that may benefit their careers later on. American students receive a glimpse into another culture, as they can become acquainted with the Hungarian language and literature, as well as attending film, music and architectural courses in addition to their business and IT education.

Graphisoft Park’s predecessor, the Óbuda Gas Plant’s listed buildings, evoke the period when Hungarian science education gave the world not only John von Neumann, but also a dozen Nobel Prize winners.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 43

43

The Aquincum Danube Apartments are one of the capitals’ most elegant residential areas, with a direct view onto the Hajógyár branch of the Danube.

The first statue in the world dedicated in memory of Steve Jobs was erected in Graphisoft Park two months after his death on 22 December 2011.

Graphisoft Park Budapest, District III., Záhony utca 7. graphisoftpark.hu

2016.06.30. 19:24

City Guide

44

New comforts await in the renovated Paskál baths Budapest’s youngest bath, the Paskál Bath, first opened in 1989 and following renovations will reopen in July this year.

A new indoor bathing area will be added to the outdoor pools, which up until now only opened during the summer.

Photo © paskalfurdo.hu

The indoor area will include a learning pool, a baby pool and medicinal pool, supplied by waters from a 70°C spring that are first naturally cooled. The new building will offer a view of the parklike grounds and a pool bar and adventure pool will await guests.

The renovations will also see the separation of the rhomboid and rectangular pools, with the latter remaining open during the winter months. The reason behind separating the pools is both aesthetic and practical. By dividing the pools in two, they can operate at different temperatures. One will be between 30-34°C and will include seats, while the other will be at 26°C for those wishing to swim.

A new sauna and treatment area will also be added to the bath.

The geothermal sauna will include 40°C water flowing on granite sheets with the air set to 80-90% humidity wrapping around bathers. A steam room will also operate, as will a Finnish sauna with a hot/cold plunge pool, and a Russian sauna heated with

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 44

wood logs to provide relaxation for both mind and body.

In addition to massages, the treatment rooms will also provide medical massages to those arriving with a prescription, mud treatments, a carbonated bath and underwater jet massages. The other pools and dressing rooms are also being renovated. The bathing complex can be easily reached by the 77 and 82 trolleybuses, which can be caught from the Puskás Ferenc Stadion and Örs Vezér Square stops on the M2 metro line.

Hungary currently has 561 baths and swimming pool complexes, of which 386 await visitors throughout the year.

Paskál bath and beach Budapest, District XIV., Egressy út 178/F paskalstrand.hu

2016.06.30. 19:24

City Guide

45

Photo © Jamie's Italian International

Bon Appétit!

The Hungarian victory at the Bocuse d’Or European final advanced and reinforced the Hungarian capital’s prestigious position on the continent’s culinary map. Readers can discover this for themselves, as the following pages explore the local activities of two international culinary stars.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 45

2016.06.30. 19:24

City Guide

46

Jamie ’ s Italian C B

Italian

uisine from a ritish chef in the Buda Castle T ext : Szonja Somogyi

Photo © MarkUmbrella.com

Photo © Jamie's Italian International

Buda Castle is primarily known for attracting tourists with its historical walls and festivals, while its stunning panoramas draw in the locals.

Although its cafés and restaurants already offer a wide variety of choices, this summer holds something special for gastro-tourists, as the “Naked Chef” Jamie Oliver has just opened his first branded restaurant in Hungary inside the castle district.

The Jamie’s Italian restaurant is a collaboration between the world-famous chef and the Zsidai Gastronomy Group and opened a few steps from the Matthias Church. With this, the heights of Italian cuisine are now available in Budapest based on Jamie Olver’s menu and precise recipes. According to Roy Zsidai, the Group’s leader, an Italian restaurant is what was missing from the Castle, where everything from beer gardens to fine dining can already be found. With more than 50 Jamie’s Italian restaurants worldwide (42 in Great Britain alone), this will be the third in Europe after the Netherlands and Sweden, with locations also operating in India, Singapore, Dubai and Bali.

“We’ve worked for decades to make Buda Castle an attractive destination for Hungarians and to return it to being a part of everyday Budapest life.

With the opening of this restaurant, the culinary offerings in Buda Castle’s Gastronomy Quarter will be so strong that there will be no need or event for which it cannot offer a fantastic location,” Roy Zsidai explained to Budapest’s Finest.

The 400 square metre restaurant opened in late May after months of preparation. This involved not only the interior decoration (although this in itself required much work on the part of the decorator), but it also meant selecting the right partners, suppliers and producers. For Jamie’s Italian, it is not only the quantity of ingredients used in the recipes that counts, but also

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 46

the process of refining the finer details for each meal, not to mention the quality of the fresh ingredients, which must also be of a high standard. The restaurant uses only the best ingredients from Italy and the region and the selection process involves transparency and sustainability, with the ethical treatment of the animals being essential. Additionally, the suppliers and ingredients are constantly inspected to ensure complete traceability. This is overseen not only by the Zsidai Group, but also by “headquarters.”

2016.06.30. 19:24

Photo: © Csaba Barbay / Flashback Fotó Studió

City Guide

“Hungary’s suppliers provide the restaurant with vegetables, mangalica pork, lamb and chicken. We found free range chickens that meet the strict guidelines of Jamie’s Italian in terms of being raised antibiotics-free with sufficient space for movement,” Zsidai added.

With Jamie’s Italian, a relaxed, easy-going and cool restaurant will open in Budapest that can seat 100 guests who will be treated to fresh pasta dishes in front of an open kitchen. The restaurant also features a terrace that can seat 50 and which provides a magnificent view. The menu will naturally change with the seasons, but will feature 40 items on average.

The staff of 70 put every effort into providing the best quality and guaranteeing the highest standards that the Jamie's Italian name promises.

Photo © Jamie's Italian International

Jamie's Italian Budapest Budapest, District I., Szentháromság u. 9.

Jamie's Italian Budapest

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 47

47

A Romantic weekend getaway in Budapest

The BUDAPEST CARD is your ticket The continent’s largest bathing complex, the Széchenyi Thermal Bath and Swimming Pool, awaits visitors in the City Park. An endless amount of pampering is available for couples: 21 pools with massage jets and fountains, Jacuzzis and a number of other wellness services.

Cultural relaxation opportunities also await couples in love. For those exploring the city with the BUDAPEST CARD, entry to the Béla Bartók Memorial House, to see the world-famous composer’s former home, is included. Additionally, guided tours can be taken in a variety of languages daily in the richly decorated Neo-Renaissance Opera building. Built in the 19th century, it is one of the most beautiful in the world.

Few activities can be found that would be more romantic in Budapest than a cruise on the Danube, which flows through the city’s centre.

Should you wish to see Budapest when it is lit up, then the Danube Legend sightseeing boat is ideal, providing tours in 30 languages.

The Budapest Summer Festival is also a romantic destination. The open-air theatre season running from June through August provides a soothing way to relax in the evening in terms of both location and repertoire. Additionally, 2016 is the Year of Romance on both Margaret Island and in the Városmajor Park. Come and spend an unforgettable evening beneath the stars!

Countless additional experiences await guests to the Hungarian capital. For more suggestions, please visit the BUDAPEST CARD website!.

2016.06.30. 19:24

City Guide

48

The Cutlery Chronicles take a bite out of Budapest T ext & P hotos : Leyla Kazim

Beautifully restored for a new generation of traveller, half of Corinthia Hotel’s Brasserie and Atrium restaurant boasts soaring glass ceilings, nestled between two main sections of the property.

A covered space drenched in light, the atrium is a venue that brings the outside in, allowing patrons to delight in the joys of al fresco dining, without being exposed to the elements. An allday restaurant catering to both in-house guests and those from outside, the kitchen squad of 38 to 55 (depending on the time of year) is responsible for buffet Sunday brunches and breakfasts, and an a la carte menu for lunch and dinner.

Dishes highlight classic French training with a hint of England, thanks to the several years spent in the royal city of Windsor,

by Executive Sous Chef and second in command, Atilla Feith.

You can expect a mini quail scotch egg with your asparagus, for example, along with sous vide egg yolk and a caramelised hollandaise.

Feith is responsible for the weekly-changing set menu, available at both lunch and dinner. “That’s the most seasonal menu,” he

explains. “It’s the one where we can be really creative, and the dishes are never repeated.” Such inventiveness includes a plate of expertly executed venison loin, venison bolognese, chocolate tortellini, salt-baked celeriac, and parsnip crisps.

The a la carte skips across Europe, stopping off at Italy, showcasing French techniques, and has a smattering of classic Hungarian dishes lifted by contemporary twists. Think a crafted plate of veal fillet "Kedvessy style", with seared duck liver, bread dumplings, and paprika-dill sauce.

Claiming the crown of Best Hotel Restaurant as voted for by diners during Dining City - a week long gastronomic event where restaurants across Budapest entice patrons with discounted menus - Corinthia’s Brasserie and Atrium is in its own right, a destination dining venue.

Babel

} Leyla Kazim

Leyla is a freelance writer, lifestyle photographer and social media consultant based in London, specialising in food, restaurants and travel. She is also author of the food and travel blog thecutlerychronicles.com. Leyla can be found on Twitter @LeyLaLaa and on Instagram @thecutlerychronicles.

In the heart of one of Budapest’s most charming districts, lies a highly sought after fine-dining restaurant, without the stuffiness. Owner and restaurateur Hubert Hlatky-Schlichter tells me its name, Babel, relates to the The Hanging Gardens of ancient Babylon. “People wanted to touch the perfection of God,” he explains. “We want to achieve something similar, but more accessible, in our kitchen.”

The venue is an ode to the craftsmanship and bountiful produce found within Hungary’s borders. At least three quarters of ingredients are from the country’s own larder, and the sleek and sophisticated interiors and accessories are almost entirely Hungarian-made. From Ajka Crystal glasses, to the fully Hungarian wine list boasting no less than 170 bottles, Babel Budapest is a place that shows respect for the country’s traditions.

Nowhere is that more prevalent than in the menu itself. “Our

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 48

2016.06.30. 19:25

City Guide

PESTI VIGADÓ

personal goal is to show the flavours and food of regional Hungarian cuisine, and that it’s not just paprika and pork,” explains Hlatky-Schlichter.

It’s one that takes inspiration from the dishes of the former Austrian-Hungarian monarchy, paying homage to familiar classics, but interpreting them in the unique and contemporary Babel style.

A favourite dish of home cooks across the country, hearty krumplis tészta (Hungarian potato pasta), manifests into an almost unrecognisable version finished with a delicate hand. At Babel, the traditionally crudely chunky Jókai bean soup is translated into a refined version fit for the most discerning diner.

Whilst these perennial favourites might look exotic when on Babel’s plates, once a native Hungarian takes a bite, familiar memories are revived. And this is part of Babel’s ambition; for people to not only visit for the excellent food, but also for an emotive experience.

gUIDED TOURS

An a la carte and tasting menus are available - some paired with wine, cheese, or both - along with a degustation option for vegans. Once you’re in, expect to stay a while; Babel rarely turns its tables and the level of service and kitchen competence means you’ll be in no hurry to leave.

Vigadó is looking forward to your visit! Explore the breathtaking inner spaces and the history of this beautiful building, which is classified as one of Budapest's historic monuments. The unparalleled panoramic view from the building is likewise a must-to-see for tourists. Our guided tours are offered in Hungarian, English, German, French, Russian, Ukrainian and Spanish. Tours are available by prior appointment for groups consisting of at least 15 persons.

MasterCard and Maestro cards are accepted by the restaurants.

Individual visitors are also welcome to take part in any of the scheduled guided tours offered from April.

Information: turizmus@vigado.hu | +36 (1) 328-3325

Leyla Kazim

ART IS IN CENTRE OPEN EVE RY DAY 10.00–19.00 1051 BUDAPEST, VIGADÓ TÉR 2. | WWW.VIGADO.HU

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 49

2016.06.30. 19:25

City Guide Photo: © Bán Teodóra

50

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 50

2016.06.30. 19:25

51

Summer in the City The majority of indoor theatres and concert venues hold a summer recess, but this does not mean a shortage of excellent programmes.

The largest venue is the Margaret Island Open-air Stage, where monumental ballet and music productions await guests beneath shady trees from 10 June to the end of August.

This year a spectacular Magic Show will be added to the programme, featuring Vincent Vignaud, David Climent, Peter Marvey and the Hungarian Dรกvid Nagy Molnรกr.

Additionally, the A38 Boat and Budapest Park will feature big names from the local and international pop music scenes.

} The Margaret Island Open-air Stage

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 51

During the warm summer evenings, the open-air stage can provide high-quality entertainment for up to 3,500 guests.

2016.06.30. 19:25

Summer in the city

52

Margaret Island

The park in the heart of the city

Photo: © ORFK / Sándor H. Szabó

Even today architects consider the Margaret Island Open-air Stage, which opened in 1938 in the island’s centre, a fantastic idea and wonderful achievement. The cloister that surrounds the country’s tallest water tower and the fan-shaped seating area for 3,500 guests is worthy of praise. The space, which is hugged by tall trees and other greenery features a stage 50 metres deep.

The whole complex was recently renovated, with the Water Tower being the first to receive a facelift, which today hosts exhibitions and weekend jazz performances within its hundred-

Photo: © István Práczky

The Danube, Europe’s second longest river at 2,840 kilometres in length, divides Budapest in two as it flows around the 96.5 hectare Margaret Island, the city’s green heart. This great park contains sacred medieval ruins, an artists’ pathway with statues of famous Hungarian artists, ponds, sporting facilities, hotels, leisure areas, a small petting zoo and a rose garden.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 52

2016.06.30. 19:25

Photo: © Zsuzsa Szkarossy

Summer in the city

53

STARS AND SUPERPRODUCTIONS

Opera Premiere

24 and 26 June 8 pm Viole�a:

Alfred Germont:

Erika Miklósa Giuseppe Filianoti Director: Ferenc Anger Conductor: Domonkos Héja Featuring the Orchestra and Choir of the Hungarian State Opera p

feat. Alegre Corrêa Horváth Kornél & Dörnyei Gábor

3 July 8 pm

Photo: © Levente Sirokai

year-old walls. The auditorium in turn was refitted with more comfortable seats. In 2013, the country’s largest stage roof was built, and the dressing rooms now meet 21st century requirements. The stage’s technical aspects were also upgraded with enormous LED walls.

“When the indoor theatres close, the open-air stages come alive.” Teodóra Bán, the organiser of the Budapest Summer Festival, introduced this new slogan. Focused on spectacle, the festival features opera and musicals, music performances, dance productions and revues starring internationally-acclaimed artists each and every year.

29. and 31. July 8 pm Desdemona:

Otello:

Jago:

Andrea Rost Marc Heller Mihály Kálmándy Conuctor: Gergely Madaras Featuring: the Orchestra and Choir of the Hungarian State Opera

5 August 8 pm Choreographer-Director: Jean-Christophe he Maillot Music: Szergej Prokofjev | Scenography: Ernest Pignon-Ernest Costume: Jerome Kaplan | Lighting: Dominique Drillot

More than 100 programs per season: son:

eng.szabadter.hu /bnyfesztival

/szabadter

/budapest_summer_festival

Tel: 06/1 301-0147 E-mail: iroda@szabadter.hu Budapesti Nyári Fesztivál FREE APP

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 53

2016.06.30. 19:25

Summer in the city

54

The Queen of the Night returns as Violetta T ext : András Oláh

Erika Miklósa will sing the lead role in La traviata for the first time on 24 and 26 June on the Margaret Island Open-air Stage.

The internationally-acclaimed coloratura soprano has been beloved by audiences for 25 years, but her recent entry into motherhood has meant changes for her career.

The role of Violetta has tempted you on multiple occasions in the past. Why did you decide to perform it now?

Photo: erikamiklosa.com

The truth is I almost sang it during the Hungarian State Opera's Japanese tour in 2013, but it did not come to pass. The time to sing it finally arrived, since I could prepare for it in both body and spirit as the role demands. I feel that vocally I have matured for it, so that I can now perform this large role how I envision it.

The Opera celebrated your 25-year career with a jubilee gala night this January, where you said goodbye to one of your emblematic roles, the Queen of the Night from The Magic Flute. What did this role, which allowed you to perform in New York’s Metropolitan, the Grand Opera in Paris, and on numerous other opera stages, give to you?

First of all, the wonderful feeling that I was born to do this, since this is a role that you cannot really learn. As a former athlete who wished to one day become an Olympic champion, I had a similar experience – it took a long time to learn the part, I struggled with it, and brought out the maximum that I could after 25 years. It is quite rare for someone to sing the Queen of the Night for this long.

Secondly, it was like an entry card into international opera life.

You can name any number of famous conductors, directors or theatres… I was able to appear and perform with the best in the world, which of course led to further collaborations. I have many fond memories, so that although I felt some sadness, I was still able to say goodbye to this role on 21 January with peace in my heart. I have shown everything in it that I could, and I was able to fulfil my desire to leave the role when I was best able to perform it.

What types of preparation does this type of role require? Violetta, the character inspired by The Lady of the Camellias, is a young girl in her early twenties who appears to be mature beyond her years.

Yes, Violetta Valéry’s emotional experiences would benefit any woman who has become a wife. From a physical perspective, although my voice has changed a lot, as a coloratura soprano it will be a great challenge to perform a lyric soprano role. It is much deeper than what my voice is accustomed to and requires much practice. Additionally, this is a big role. With the exception of one or two minutes, Violetta is on stage throughout the three acts, during which she sings ensemble and solo pieces. The operatic history of The Lady of the Camellias is based on a well written libretto. As an actress, it’s a beautiful and difficult task to perform this woman with her life at risk who, despite her young age, has already had many affairs before an ideal but younger man finds her. It offers many opportunities.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 54

You said goodbye not only to the Queen of the Night, but you have temporarily also significantly scaled back your international performances. From a different perspective, the 25th jubilee was a watershed, or is this more to do with the joys of motherhood that you’ve experienced over the last year?

Biborka’s adoption was important in our lives, because I probably could not have stopped myself from going on constant long trips where I was quite homesick by the end.

When you are young, these invitations give you the opportunity to gain experience and are necessary for your career. This is ideal, but if a child arrives into the family, then priorities change. I am now primarily a mother, I will not travel for extended periods, and I really enjoy the wonderful responsibilities I receive from the Opera in Budapest. Due to my international career, I

2016.06.30. 19:25

Summer in the city had to leave Hungarian audiences too early, which has always remained a source of sadness for me. Now I am able to primarily provide them with experiences.

55

Although your home is in a small village in the Bakony Hills, your work ties you to Budapest. As a singer or private individual, what are your favourite locations in the city? What streets or squares do you like the most?

Ever since I moved back to the country (I was born in Kiskunhalas), I absolutely love Budapest, because I can recognise its virtues. Budapest is an exceptionally exciting and inspiring city, it is diverse and has layers of cultural offerings that can barely be found in other European metropolises. I love the ruin pubs.

When I think back to my youth, I can find the momentum of the 1970s and 80s in them. We celebrated my Kossuth Prize in Szimpla Kert. I love the parks too. When I was preparing for the New York Marathon, I must have trained in every green space in Budapest, from the City Park to Hármashatár Hill to Margaret Island and Kopaszi Dam, which is a great place for a run on the weekdays when it’s not so busy. My husband and I always enjoy discovering homely restaurants, where the traditions guarded by families produce special flavours in the food. One of my favourite areas is the pedestrianised Hajos Street and its surroundings by the Opera. The butcher there cooks such wonderful sausage that when I travelled abroad I could barely wait to eat there again.

But we’re on familial terms with the florist and the Havalda leather jeweller, who occasionally creates unique items for my concerts. I love these small, family stores.

Following its Margaret Island debut, La traviata will relocate in the autumn to the Opera House on Andrássy Boulevard. What other roles will you perform during the upcoming season?

Erika Miklósa has retired from the role of the Queen of the Night. This image is from her performance in the Malmö Opera’s staging of The Magic Flute.

Photo: Malin Arnesson

I am quite curious as to how it will feel this autumn to once again sing the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor under Máté Szabó’s new direction. It was entirely different performing this difficult bel canto role at 21-22 compared to now when I am over 40. My other great favourite, which is a new role for me is Melinda in Ferenc Erkel’s Bánk bán. Additionally, I will continue to sing Mária Gara in Hunyadi László and Maria in West Side Story¸ which is also a very special task.

Verdi: La Traviata Margaret Island Open-air Stage szabadter.hu

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 55

2016.06.30. 19:25

Summer in the city

56 T ext : Gyula Balogh

The guitar tapping genius

On 3 July the Margaret Island Open-air Stage will host the world-famous American jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan. With him on stage will be the equally renowned Brazilian singer-guitarist Alegre Corrêa, and the internationally celebrated percussionists Kornél Horváth and Gábor Dörnyei.

As Horváth informed us, the performers for the July concert were hand-picked by Jordan himself, so he and Dörnyei were only too pleased to participate.

Horváth continued that what makes the concert unique is that two fantastic guitarists will perform as part of this temporary formation. The main attraction will be Jordan, who is famous for his unusual tapping technique. Jordan made his name while still quite young and became world famous almost overnight. His unique style played a large role in this, for instead of picking the strings, he taps them as if they were keys. But this is no coincidence as Jordan started out playing piano before switching to guitar, although he has kept up his piano skills, as he will reveal during the concert.

Born in 1959, Jordan graduated with degrees in music theory and composition from Princeton University, after which he decided to make a living as a musician on the streets of New York, Philadelphia and a number of other Midwestern and Southern cities. Word quickly travelled that a phenomenal guitarist was playing for pennies, and he soon signed a contract with the revived Blue Note Records as the label’s first artist. In 1985, Jordan released his album Magic Touch, which was produced by Al Di Meola. The album shot to the top of the Billboard Jazz Charts like a rocket, where it spent 49 weeks, even making it onto the pop charts. Since the early 1990s, he has placed an emphasis on phrasing instead of speed or complexity.

Photo: Keith Major

The production at Margaret Island will no doubt be paradise for guitar-lovers, Horváth added. The exceptional percussionist continued that this will be his first performance with Jordan, so the concert will be preceded by a joint practice period, which each participant eagerly awaits. The concert will in reality qualify as a world premiere, but Horváth hopes that the introduction of this new formation will only be the start and that their playing together will continue here and elsewhere.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 56

In regards to the programme, it will naturally consist of the performing musicians’ repertoires, but will also contain brand new compositions. Horváth considers the July concert to be a massive challenge, especially since in jazz harmony is exceptionally important and improvised parts will also be played during the songs. He too is curious how this harmony will be accomplished during the practice sessions.

2016.06.30. 19:25

Enjoy your stay in Hungary!

Pay quickly, easily and securely with your bank card!

We are pleased that you chose to take some time off to relax in Hungary and hope you will enjoy your stay with us.

Your MasterCard® and Maestro® cards are accepted at tens of thousands of locations throughout Hungary, such as hotels and restaurants, stores, museums and countless other tourist sights.

Your bank card is your ticket to convenience when renting a vehicle or bicycle, hailing a taxi or purchasing tickets and passes for public transport. Using bank cards is free of

Look for the Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 57

charge virtually everywhere in Hungary. You can use your card not only for purchases, but also for cash withdrawals from the more than 5,000 ATMs located throughout the country, making exchanging currency unnecessary.

If you have a contactless card, you can now pay with a simple tap, especially if the transaction is below 5,000 forints. As this does not even require your PIN code, payments are quick and easy, not to mention convenient, which is especially important when you’re on holiday!

sign 2016.06.30. 19:25

Summer in the city

58

A ndrea Rost’s encounters with Desdemona The opera star’s

polished diamonds

Photo: © Bálint Barna

T ext : Zsuzsa Mátraházi

Photo: Tomas Opitz

In addition to her crystal-clear soprano voice, Andrea Rost can also reveal her own jewellery collection. As a young girl, she was always amazed by gems that reflect much more light than that which shines on them. The same can be said of the limelight, and perhaps it was a combination of the two that led to her desire to take the stage. The history of the gold-jewellery collection she designed decorated with diamonds and precious stones only began to take shape two years ago. While in the Louvre, a painting of the Madonna caught her eye, which uncharacteristically featured the Virgin Mary wearing a ring. The ring on her finger radiated femininity and strength. This inspired Andrea Rost to one day make jewellery that carries this message.

“I secretly photographed the painting,” she admits somewhat sheepishly, “and upon returning home I contacted Lili Koós, who is from a family of goldsmiths, and who at the time crafted the ring for me from silver. I wanted to experience what it would be like to wear the ring that at first glance appeared to be too large. It surprised me that while you tend to feel a ring when a person greets you and holds your hand more firmly, this one fit snugly between the fingers.”

In addition to rings, the collection also features pendants, earrings, bracelets and broches. “Catholicism is also present in my plans.

The Trinity and the legend of the martyr Saint Sophia are weaved into the collection, as is the symbolism of Saint Sophia’s three daughters’ names: Faith, Hope and Charity. What is more, three is my lucky number.”

These jewellery are just like Andrea Rost in their multi-faceted nature. Everyone sees a different style in them. Some see Aztec, others Byzantine or Medieval, with some even seeing Art Deco.

“I feel they are closest to Byzantine,” Rost adds. “They are heavy and contain much precious material. The wearer can feel that they are prepared to take on the world. These are not everyday items, and each are unique with their wonderfully-coloured, easily shaped 18 karat gold and precious stones.

The enormous broche that contains 13 motifs had each section poured and polished separately.”

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 58

2016.06.30. 19:25

59

Photo: rostcollection.com

Photo: rostcollection.com

Summer in the city

} Jewellery of timeless beauty

“Diamonds are forever, just like true love,” says Lili Koós, the owner of LIKO Jewellery. Engagement ring trends have also changed to reflect this, she adds. Diamonds are at the top of the list, but white brilliant cut diamonds are also being joined by diamonds that are black, yellow or champagne coloured. Simpler rings are also increasingly popular, featuring either a larger stone, or one where the band is decorated with tiny diamonds.

It was important for Andrea Rost that her new form of artistic expression also has a charitable side. Proceeds arriving until September will be passed on to the Catholic Charity, with the price of the bracelet auctioned during the Shakespeare Ball to be donated to the National Ambulance Service Shakespeare will also be part of the internationally acclaimed singer’s life this summer. According to Rost, Shakespeare “lives in her heart” in part because her operatic singing career began with Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette. On 29 and 31 July, she will perform as Desdemona in Verdi’s Otello on the Margaret Island Open-air Stage, with the American Marc Heller singing the title role. This will be the final performance of László Vámos’s legendary direction of Otello, considered one of the most magnificent tragedies of Italian operatic literature, which belonged to the Hungarian State Opera’s repertoire for decades.

“The work’s dramatic tension is also interesting, and its staging is particularly pleasing for me. I love Desdemona’s headdress, her costumes, and that the direction is also visually very pleasing. I like how the chorus is moved, how my entrance on the long steps makes an impact. I can show how elegant and beautiful this woman is. In fact, it is also important to reveal this, because in the end her desirable appearance is her undoing. The melodies are wonderful and the story is moving.”

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 59

Customers approach LIKO primarily for custom orders. “People like to put their own personalities into creating jewellery that will be eternal” Koós said. “I provide professional advice to support customers’ ideas in regards to colour, gem and style. I inform them how their ideas can be refined, so that the jewellery that we craft with traditional technology can be created and will stand the test of time.”

Koós took on the family tradition and became a goldsmith, perfecting her craft by taking professional courses in famous fashion centres such as Milan, London, New York and Sydney. For her final project, she designed jewellery themed on heroines from the opera, which led to her collaboration with opera singer Andrea Rost. Koós and Rost drew inspiration from Violetta from La traviata, Gilda from Rigoletto and Desdemona from Otello. “I looked to see what forms and sizes were typical for the given opera period,” Koós said, “And created jewellery that spoke to the heroines’ personalities in atmosphere and colour.

The Desdemona ring’s colour is dominated by the red ruby and black diamond, to symbolise passion and drama.”

For more information, visit the LIKO website or drop in on the Budapest store, which has many international customers thanks to Koós’s earlier studies and work. The jeweller’s craft is one that requires trust, and it would appear that the young gold jewellery designer has the unqualified loyalty of her clients.

rostcollection.com

2016.06.30. 19:25

Summer in the city

60

Much more than music at this year’s Sziget Festival T ext : Gyula Balogh

Photo: MTI / Balázs Mohai

The Sziget Festival, one of Europe’s most prestigious music and cultural festivals, will kick-off this year on 10 August.

The organisers have promised to place even more emphasis on environmental awareness, hygiene, spectacle and the quality of services. In addition to this, as one of Hungary’s largest tourist-attracting events, the organisers have increased security to guarantee the safety of everyone arriving from all around the world.

Festival-goers crossing the bridge to the island.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 60

“The number of visitors to last year’s Sziget Festival topped 440,000. 2015 was without a doubt the best festival we have ever experienced. This was the feedback we received from the audience, the musicians, as well as music professionals and journalists. The crowning achievement was that at the European Festival Awards this year, where we’ve already twice won the award for Best Major Festival, we also won the Best Line Up award. It won’t be easy to top this and organise a better festival, but we’ll certainly try,” Károly Gerendai, the festival’s main organiser observed. The organisers are expecting to sell out of tickets this year as well.

“It’s also important to mention that tickets were selling well before we even announced the performers. Therefore we’re increasingly accomplishing what only the most important and successful festivals worldwide have achieved. Although the music is important, the atmosphere is even more so, and it is so unique that it can’t be experienced elsewhere. In other words, a significant percentage of visitors want to come to Sziget itself, and not just see a certain concert,” Gerendai added. With respect to the spectacle, more than 200 entries were received this year from every corner of the world for the Art of Freedom competition, with visual artists, designers, sculptors and even enthusiastic “amateurs” entering so that their wildest ideas could be exhibited during the festival. A massive space ferry, illuminated PET bottle dragon, giant statues and special lighting… this year will also see a hundred public art installations at various points of the festival, where between concerts we can wander into surreal landscapes, rest on fairy-tale clouds, and even become part of a handful of art performances throughout the day.

The organisers will user stronger initiatives and communication to popularise environmental awareness among festival-goers. From recycling to informed purchasing and green energy, they intend to present good examples in a number of areas. This environmental awareness and the Island of Freedom’s spirit will tie in with the campaign launched last year where organisers asked festival goers to donate their no-longer needed camping accessories, tents, blankets and mattresses. There will be some changes in the hospitality area too, which this year will see international restaurants offered a presence, among them FoodStock, the festival annex for Slovakia’s best restaurant Fou Zoo. And, of course, there will still be a wide variety available, from hamburgers and pizza to food trucks, Hungarian delicacies and other international flavours.

A kaleidoscope of international acts

This year’s line-up will feature an assortment of world famous stars, performers and programmes to sweep visitors off their feet. The

2016.06.30. 19:26

Fin

Summer in the city

Following their very successful performances in 2006 and 2007,

Finest hirdetes 210x135_AN / Cyan Magenta Yellow Black / 2016. will június 2. the French street theatre company Transe Express return

Photo: MTI / Balázs Mohai

main stage will launch on Day -1, including Marky Ramone’s 40 Years of Punk Rock to celebrate the anniversary, with Skunk Anansie promoting their new album and festival favourites Die Antwoord also taking the stage that day. The superstar taking the stage on 0 day will be none other than Rihanna.

During the regular festival, the main stage will also see performances by Manu Chao La Ventura, Muse, David Guetta, Sia, and an End Show featuring Hardwell. Other performers will be Sigur Rós, Noel Gallagher, Bastille, John Newman, the Last Shadow Puppets, Bring Me The Horizon , SUM 41, the Kaiser Chiefs, The Lumineers, Quimby, Years&Years and Parkway Drive. The World Music Stage will feature the Serbian Goran Bregovic fronting the must-see Wedding and Funeral Band, and the Fanfare Ciocarlia brass band, who are also Roma in origin. The recently reformed Finnish band Värttinä, Leningrad, the Algerian-born Rachid Taha, and the Italian Baro Drom Orkestar will also take the stage. Also arriving to Budapest will be Django Lassi, Aziza Brahim, Dudu Tassa & The Kuwaitis, The Džambo Aguševi Orchestra, Les Hurlements d’Leo, Enzo Avitabile & Bottari + Scorribanda, Mau Mau, the Yiddish Twist Orchestra, Systema Solar, LA-33, La Dame Blanche, Soviet Suprem, Kultur Shock, Malasañers, the Hackney Colliery Band, PASO, Cimbaliband, Félix Lajkó feat. Óperentzia, and the Psycho Mutants.

61

A concert on the World Music Stage of the Sziget Festival.

to the festival this year. Their latest production Mú! will navigate you through the world of Jules Verne, where the audience can follow actors going from below the sea, through fire and air, straight to the Moon. This year will also see circus performances and even some opera in addition to the international theatre productions.

Sziget Festival sziget.hu

DUNA CORSO SIGHTSEEING CRUISE

Information and ticket sale: MAHART PassNave Ltd. Vigadó Square Ship Station, Budapest departure from pier 6 and 5/A. +36 1 484 4013 sales@mahartpassnave.hu www.mahartpassnave.hu

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 61

2016.06.30. 19:26

Summer in the city

62

PROGRAMME

Photo: Hungarian State Opera

CORNER

Billy Elliot

Elton John’s musical comes to Budapest 29 July 2016

Hungarian State Opera

The Hungarian State Opera located in Budapest will take Lee Hall and Elton John’s world-famous musical Billy Elliott to the stage in the Erkel Theatre. Since its premier in 2005, more than 5 million have seen the production in London, with 11 million seeing it worldwide.

The musical is based on the Oscar-nominated film of the same name, which is about a talented boy born into a poor family who are against his wish to dance ballet. The main reason the musical was selected was because through Billy Elliott’s story, the audience is brought into the world of ballet.

The title role is extremely difficult as it requires the child actors to be able to say prose, sing and dance including step and ballet. This summer’s premiere and subsequent performances were only announced after a yearlong series of castings.

Since the Hungarian State Opera plans to perform the musical 70 times in its first year, everyone selected for the show will get to perform. The production will feature 29 girls between the ages of 9-12, all of whom are graduates of the Madách Musical Dance School.

Billy Elliott the Musical won Olivier Awards in four categories in its first year, which is the highest recognition in British theatre, while in America the Broadway production won Tony Awards in ten categories. The local performance will be directed by Kossuth and Jászai Prize-winning Tamás Szirtes, who has staged more than a hundred pieces during his career, among them the musicals Jesus Christ Superstar and Mary Poppins.

The Opera will stage Billy Elliot the Musical on 29 July for the first time in its history.

Charity Concert in Városmajor Park

Tamás Vásáry and the Kodály Zoltán World Youth Orchestra 23 July 2016

Városmajor Open-air Stage

Photo: Bahget Iskander

opera.hu

The world-famous pianist and conductor Tamás Vásáry and the Kodály Zoltán World Youth Orchestra that he founded are regular guests on the Városmajor Open-air Stage. On 23 July, the evening’s solo performance will be by the extraordinarily talented young pianist Mihály Berecz, who will play Liszt’s Hungarian Fantasy. Kodaly’s popular Háry János Suite will also be performed during the evening, as will Brahm’s Symphony No. 2.

Young and talented musicians from all over the world participate in the Young Musician’s Summer Academy organised by the University of Debrecen’s Faculty of Music. In addition to individual master classes, students also participate in orchestra courses. The youth orchestra led by Tamás Vásáry offers an exceptional concert programme for audiences here in Hungary and abroad. Following the Városmajor Park concert, the orchestra will depart for a European tour. Proceeds from the concert will be donated to charity. szabadter.hu

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 62

2016.06.30. 19:26

Summer in the city

63

Photo: Mittecomm / Balázs Csizik

The new Szamos Café by Parliament

The Szamos Café that recen tly opened adjacent to Parliament brings with it new ideas. The modern and stylish interior reveals that the 80-year-old brand is still capable of reinventing itself. This will be the first location to sell Szamos Today coffees to go, salads and sandwiches, which are entirely new offerings alongside the confectionary’s traditional products. Tipping its hat to a healthy lifestyle, this will make breakfast and lunch during work hours much easier. The location also contains a chocolate school, cake workshop and Szamos store, with an events room capable of hosting 50, not to mention a Szamos Chocolate Museum. The museum’s exhibit will celebrate the second generation’s 20 years of collection work. Production, processing, cocoa preparation, the old world of chocolate salons, utensils, tools, machines, a chocolate store and finally the workshop is how the magical world of chocolate will be revealed across six rooms.

The store located on Kossuth Square makes it possible to drop by before or after a visit to the Parliament to rest and refresh yourself, not to mention a “sweet” visit to a museum. Opening hours on Monday-Friday are 7:30 am – 7 pm, and SaturdaySunday 9 am – 7 pm. szamos.hu

Jewish Art Days

Budapest Bár: Klezmer and songs from Pest Liszt Academy of Music

Budapest’s cultural life has been further enriched with a new festival, for this year shall see the first Jewish Art Days during the early summer. The festival’s final day will see the internationally renowned Budapest Bár perform in the Liszt Academy of Music’s Grand Hall. Róbert Farkas and his fellow musicians released the album Klezmer in May 2015, and during their preparation work, they collaborated with László Fekete, the Great Synagogue’s lead cantor. Those who enjoy klezmer or Budapest Bár’s reworkings of old songs from Pest will equally enjoy this performance during the festival, for the evening’s first half will consist of klezmer, while the second will feature the popular Pest songs. It is a special delight that Ági Szalóki, who was a member of Budapest Bár in its early days, will return for the occasion. This concert will be the band’s first performance in the Liszt Academy of Music. zsidomuveszetinapok.hu

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 63

Photo: Ruthe Zuntz

14 June 2016

2016.06.30. 19:26

Summer in the city

64

Armel Opera Festival 27 June – 2 July 2016

The festival will close with a performance of Hans Werner Henze’s opera Elegy for Young Lovers on 2 July. This production by the Liszt Academy of Music is a true rarity, and it will be the first performance on a Hungarian stage. Written in 1961 and revised in 1987, Elegy for Young Lovers is a numbing psychological drama that takes place between snowy mountains, where an artist in deep crisis plays cruel emotional games with everyone associated with him. While the agony of loneliness keeps dominating this secluded place, love between two characters flare up just to be extinguished by the thick layers of snow.

National Theatre / Thalia Theatre

Photo: © Yann Orhan

The Armel Opera Festival and Competition is a unique stage for European music and opera. The young performers have to compete for the leading roles in the five works listed in the festival’s programme, and after their selection they practice for a year in advance of the premiere. The organisers make arrangements with five opera companies and operas in regards to the competition and festival programme, and the performances are included into the opera houses’ repertoires.

The first premiere for 2016 (27 June) will be the new opera Senza Sangue by the world-famous Hungarian composer Péter Eötvös. This will be followed by Bartók’s only opera, Bluebeard’s Castle. The two will be performed by the Opéra Grand Avignon, which is participating in the Armel Opera Festival for the first time. They selected the two one-act operas, because according to them they “were written for each other”. The French director Nadine Duffaut will take Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle to the stage, which will be paired with Eötvös’s Senza Sangue, which Róbert Alföldi will direct.

On 29 June in the Thália Theatre, Astor Piazzola’s piece Maria de Buenos Aires will be performed by the Theater Orchester Biel Solothurn. 30 June in turn will see performances of Bruno Coli’s The Angel of the Odd and The Tell-Tale Heart. Both are productions of the Teatro Verdi Di Pisa.

On 1 July, the Thália will also host the Serbian National Theatre Novi Said. The company will perform the British The Omnibus Opera’s staging of Gian Carlo Menotti’s ironic and thoughtful The Telephone, followed by Samuel Barber’s The Hand of Bridge, as well as Paul Hindemith’s There and Back.

Photo: © Armelfestival.org

armelfestival.org

ZAZ 22 July 2016

Budapest Park

ZAZ, aka Isabelle Geffroy, will visit Budapest on 22 July, so that she can mesmerise everyone with her smoky bohemian voice and French chansons, jazz and light guitar music. Her song “Je Veux” from 2010 brought her international fame, and in 2011 she won the European Border Breakers Award, enjoying continued success ever since. “ZAZ has such natural attraction, that no matter what she sings, it will touch your soul,” Charles Aznavour, the French-Armenian chanson icon declared. ZAZ will arrive to the Budapest Park promoting her new covers album Paris, bringing with herself the City of Light’s atmosphere as she performs bohemian renditions of songs by Edith Piaf and Josephine Baker, among others. budapestpark.hu

Publisher:

Published quarterly

All images, texts, graphics and design elements are subject to copyright.

Reproduction, use or imitation is not authorised without permission by law and is subject to criminal liability.

The publication can be ordered via the publisher’s address.

ISSN 2064-9894

Responsible Publisher } Teodóra Bán, Manager Publishing Director } Diána Monostori Responsible Editor } Mária Albert Publication Manager & Art direction } István Práczky Photo Management } MitteComm Kft. Cover photo } László Víg Translation } Zoltán Csipke

1052 Budapest, Városház utca 9–11.

Telephone } +36 1 486 3300 e-mail } marketing@budapestinfo.hu Advertising } Mária Sali } hirdetes@budapestinfo.hu Telephone } +36 1 486 3309 Printing } Pátria Nyomda Zrt.

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 64

en.budapestinfo.hu/budapest-s-finest

2016.06.30. 19:26

Szabadság híd • Liberty Bridge Lánchíd • Chain Bridge

72h

4900 HUF/17 EUR

CREATE YOUR OWN, UNIQUE EXPERIENCE PACKAGE WITH THE HELP OF BUDAPEST CARD! You may use each discount only once.

7900 HUF/27 EUR 9900 HUF/33 EUR

WITH THE BUDAPEST CARD YOU GET

• FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION • 1 FREE entrance to St. Lukacs Thermal Baths • 1 FREE entrance to 12 museums • 2 FREE guided walking tours • FREE access to a 24 hour safe and discounts on sights, exhibitions, theatres, programmes, theme parks, baths and restaurants

NEW! MORE EXPERIENCES AND DISCOUNTS

Valid: 1 April 2016 – 31 March 2017

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 65

2016.06.30. 19:26

Finest_Summer_2016_06_30_ENG.indd 66

2016.06.30. 19:26