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Attractions in Budapest

Budapest has a grand history in music, ranging from virtuoso pianist Franz Liszt (whose playing frequently induced the ladies to swoon but who was not, in fact, Hungarian) to the operas of Ferenc Erkel. In the early 20th century, Béla Bartók (1881-1945) and Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967) scoured the country to capture its vanishing folk songs. Their work has enriched today's vibrant Hungarian music scene.

Opera, ballet and classical music

Opera is highly esteemed in Hungary, a country whose composers and writers have created such works as Bánk Bán, László Hunyadi, The Queen of Sheba and Blood Wedding. Most productions are in Hungarian, a custom introduced by Mahler when he was director of the State Opera House in Budapest; fans prefer their opera "old style", with lavish sets and costumes, and they interrupt with ovations after particularly bravura passages. Operas by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Wagner and national composers are staged throughout the year, while several new productions are premiered during the Spring and Autumn festivals, when you can also catch performances by the State Opera ballet and visiting foreign companies.
The city excels in its variety of classical music performances, although pre-Baroque stuff is poorly represented. There are several concerts every night of the year, especially during the two main festivals.

Over the summer, smaller concerts take place outdoors on Margit sziget, and in many historic buildings, including the Mátyás Church, the Dominican Yard of the Hilton Hotel in the Castle District, and the Vajdahunyad Castle in the Városliget. Choral or organ recitals are also held at the Mátyás Church on Fridays and Saturdays between June and September (from 8pm), and less frequently the rest of the year. Bear in mind that many city venues - the opera, theatre and concert halls - close for the summer at the end of May, reopening in mid-September. There is a summer season of concerts at Martonvásár and Vácrátót, within commuting distance of Budapest.

Festivals and events: the Budapest year

The two highlights of Budapest's cultural calendar are the Spring Festival in late March and the Autumn Festival from late September to late October, though these are less impressive than in the past, owing to cuts in funding. Both offer music, ballet and drama, including star acts from abroad.

The Budapest Bucsú or Farewell, first held in 1991 to celebrate the departure of the last Russian troops from Hungary, takes place on the last weekend of June, with open-air music, dance and events across the city. The Bridge Festival (Hid Fesztval) at the end of June is a new event that commemorates the building of the Chain Bridge in the 1840s.

The biggest music event of the summer is the Sziget Festival, one of the largest open-air rock and pop gatherings in Europe, held on an island north of the city in early August.