musical miracle

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“Two golden ribbons adorn my hat – one Hungarian, the other gypsy.
I don't want to give up any of them because they are both mine. – so said Tamas Peli, the world-famous Hungarian musician of gypsy origin. This phrase is the best way to describe the orchestra of Hungarian gypsies – orchestra awarded the “Hungarian Heritage” prize, included in the “Golden Book” culture of Hungary, to the virtual “Museum of the Hungarian Spirit” and in the Guinness Book of Records This orchestra, founded 36 years ago – in fact a classical symphony orchestra – is a unique phenomenon in the world of music; a value unparalleled in the world. In addition to serious classical works, compositions by Liszt, Bartók, Kodály, Erkel, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Sarasate, Strauss, the orchestra musicians perform traditional Hungarian gypsy music, folk melodies and folk songs. In fact, in the orchestra of violinists of them – half, the rest – violists, cellists, double bassists, cymbalists and clarinetists. Hungarian gypsy musicians can play any hit in the world, from the Beatles to Madonna, and this time they will add songs in Yiddish to the program.

The orchestra arose in the wake of a sad event in April 1985. Hundreds of musicians from several cities of Hungary gathered at the funeral of the then primate – the gypsy violinist Sandor Jaroka. According to the ancient gypsy custom, the unforgettable musician and composer was accompanied by music on his last journey. And it was then that it was decided that it was necessary to organize a constantly performing troupe of musicians in order to fill the musical void.
After that, the founders of the orchestra – Lazlo Berki, Tivadar Mezharos and Lajos Boross – set about implementing the plan. After several months of successful preparation, in November 1985, the “National Cultural Association of Budapest Gypsy Orchestras” was formed, which later turned into a world famous orchestra, known to many as the “100 Gypsy Violins”.

In March 1986, the first concert of this orchestra took place as part of the Budapest Spring Festival. The Gypsy Orchestra decided to conquer the world and spread information about Hungarian and Gypsy culture around the world by playing special, often unique instruments.
Since its foundation, the orchestra has given tens of thousands of concerts, traveling from the largest cultural centers and small towns of Hungary to many famous concert halls of the world. Since its foundation, the orchestra has become a landmark group, not only promoting Hungarian and Gypsy music, but also building a bridge between peoples from this music.
In March 2014, the orchestra “100 Gypsy Violins” was included in the Hungarikum list. «Hungarikum»– this is a collective concept, a calling card, which includes the values ​​of a thousand-year-old Hungarian culture, Hungarian spiritual and material works and natural resources. According to critics, there is something magical about the way the world's most famous gypsy band appears on stage. The reason for this is the constant enthusiasm of the musicians. Indeed, for them, success is a kind of message that re-inspires musicians.

The concert of the Budapest Gypsy Symphony Orchestra became the main attraction of the opening of the World Exhibition in Lisbon. At the International Music Festival in Carthage, the orchestra gave an “explosive” show in front of an audience of 15,000 spectators. In Paris, at the Théâtre des Champs Elysées, between 2002 and 2014 the orchestra had 55 extremely successful performances. In France, “100 gypsy violins” have been touring annually since 1994. They play in many cities in America, Asia, Australia, Europe, and are constantly present on the international music scene. Over the years of its existence, the orchestra has released 21 CDs and 5 DVDs, of which 8 went platinum and 14 went gold. Numerous radio and television recordings have been made about them, and they have won the Magyar Rádió Nívódí and awards from dozens of festivals.

Gypsy and Jewish music have a lot in common. It can be said without exaggeration that the violin – it is a folk instrument, both gypsy and Jewish. Not a single wedding in the camps and in Jewish towns could do without a violin. Both peoples have many excellent singers, and gypsy songs and romances, like Jewish song music, cannot leave anyone indifferent. The concerts to be held in Israel will be attended by Mike Burshtein, an outstanding Jewish actor, director, producer, TV presenter and singer, an iconic figure in the world Jewish culture, the legendary Kuni Lemel, familiar to every Israeli.

*****
Budapest Gypsy Symphony Orchestra and Mike Burstein.
Haifa, 11/12/2022, Saturday, Haifa Auditorium, 20:00
Jerusalem, 11/13/2022, Sunday, Yerushalayim Theater, 20:30
Tel Aviv, 11/14/2022, Monday, Heykhal HaTarbut, 20:30
Be'er Sheva, 11/15/2022, Tuesday, Performing Arts Center, 20:00
Kiryat Motzkin, 11/16/2022 , Wednesday, Heykhal ha-Teatron, 20:00

Tickets: https://fgk.kassa.co.il/announce/72186

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgX84C5eVXE< br />
Website of the Budapest Gypsy Symphony Orchestra – www.100tagu.hu

All photos – © BGSO – provided by the project producer – FGKProduction

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