The programme has been created for the North-American tour of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble in 2013. The show has been performed in the biggest cities, concert halls and theatres of the USA and Canada from New York City to San Francisco and from Toronto to Miami.
„… their splendid show was given a standing ovation by the enthusiastic audience”
Kronika Chicago
„Hungarian State folk ensemble accompanied by their world-class Folk and Gypsy Orchestra offered us a spectacular evening of colorful Hungarian culture”
Las Vegas Tribune
The genre of rhapsody is best characterized by a state of constant bewilderment, a passionate oscillation of sentiments and thoughts,and freedom of expression. Rooted in and inspired by tradition,“Hungarian Rhapsody – America” is a unique dance rhapsody displaying the most characteristic features of the genre. The dynamic variation of scenes illustrates the diversity of Hungarian ruralculture including men’s acrobatic solo dances, woman’s lyrical round dances, and virtuoso couple dances. Dances are accompanied with the most beautiful tunes of Hungarian folk culture, which are also presentedin the form of breathtaking solos and captivating instrumental intermezzos.
Apart from the archaic layers of Hungarian folk music, “Hungarian Rhapsody – America” also concentrates on csárdás and verbunkos music dating back to the 19th century. These two characteristic and unmistakable new genres were powerful enough to inspire several Hungarian and foreign composers including Brahms, Berlioz, or Franz Liszt.
This performance is also unique for the delicate balance it establishes between the “spectacular” and the “intellectual”. Coupled with a consequent variation of spatial arrangements, dynamic, monumental, lyrical, and gloomy parts constitute an organic unity with music and scenery. Following the best examples of the genre, choreographies display a huge variety in temperament. Taken from the folklore of the Carpathian Basin, the material of dance scenes isselected, arranged and trimmed according to the ruthless rules of theatric representation, which in turn providesscenes with anintellectual and emotional overtone.
Artists of “Hungarian Rhapsody – America” are following the example of their great predecessors, professing that “treasure kept on sheets, records and in museums’ storerooms is dead if it no longer fulfills its mission of keeping tradition alive”. Apart from being an artistic experience featuring virtuoso spectacles, touching lyric parts and an emotionally moving musical richness, this production respects folk music and dance tradition whileseeing and seeking new perspectives in it, and views tradition as a possible contemporary means of expressing emotions and thoughts as well as individual and collective identity. The message of this performance may help prevent “contemporary men” from becoming rootless survivors, deprived of their emotions and tradition, forced into exile on the barren island of the 21st century.