Hungarian State Folk Ensemble Hungarian Concerto CD

The political cataclysm of the nineties had resulted in the emergence of new democ-racies in Central and East Europe. The living memory of the revolution of 1956 had made Hungary a protagonist of such changes. A new Hungarian Republic was born. This signi-ficant historic event fundamentally and quickly reshaped our economic, social and cultural environment. However, the whole world is continuously changing and we are influenced by these changes. In such an ever-changing world, it is difficult to rely on certain values because our approach to tradition, considered beforehand permanent and constant, has also changed. In view of these facts, the conclusion is inevitable that we need to identify and to show the live, affirmable and valuable elements of our tradition; and to identify and to position ourselves in our language and in our world.While conceiving the Hungarian Concerto, the originators were guided by the oeuvre of world-famous composer, ethnomusicologist and pianist Béla Bartók. His spirituality and life-work convincingly prove that tradition and modernity are complementary categories. Knowing our native culture, folk-dances and folk-music, and proceeding from it, we can find our special, modern and topical way of artistic expression, our new language of stage dance.The performance of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble is a complex dance theater unique in the world; traditional folk-dance, folk-music, contemporary music, sophisticated stage equipment and an up-to-date dramaturgy are integral parts of a contemporary com-munal theater, however facilitating personal identification, representing universal values.The Hungarian Concerto reflects the unity of tradition and of modernity: the gorgeous variegation of Hungarian folk-music and folk-dance, the acrobatic virtuosity of men’s dances, the lyricism of girls’ dances, the charm of love reflected by twosome dances, pearls of vocal culture…The most beautiful, almost classic pieces of Hungarian folk-music, fine instrumental solos, fortes and pianos, a tremendous orchestral sound… A glorious and inspired scene. The Hungarian Concerto is a new performance of a new world.