Live
from Müpa on 7 February, the opening act will be the Fonó Band, whose clear understanding of the folk-music tradition underscores their music as much as the need to
find new paths forward. Sometimes they expand their boundaries in chronological
terms - for example, by looking to the Baroque
era – and sometimes they do it according
to geography, like exploring Turkish
folk music.
Also performing at the event, the Berka Ensemble are most familiar with
the music of times past themselves, although their orientation is primarily
towards the tradition of the Csángó people of Moldavia. Their latest record, Csángó
négy évszak (‘Four Csángó Seasons’), has been
received with much acclaim.
As a celebration within the celebration, to mark
their 20th year together, Romano Drom
have released a brilliant new album, Give Me Wine, fusing classic Oláh
Gypsy music, their own compositions and Western European Gypsy melodies.
The second half of the evening consists of two
productions in which folk comes with
rock overtones. One of the godfathers of the genre, Ferenc Kiss is a veteran of the groups Kolinda, Vízöntő and
Etnofon. The songwriters themselves and Etnofon
have blended their ever popular classics with the rearranged songs of Péter Novák in a way that transcends
boundaries. The gala programme ends with the Csík Band, joined by former LGT music legends Gábor Presser and János
Karácsony.
