Among others, László Kollár-Klemencz, Veronika Harcsa, Mihály Dresch, Rozina Pátkai, Maszkura, Krisztián Nyáry, and Ádám Bősze will perform in the 2023 season of the Veszprém-Balaton 2023 European Capital of Culture programme’s Literary Ruin Concerts series.
Veszprém and the Balaton felvidék (Balaton Highlands) have a uniquely rich medieval heritage, as you can find monasteries, churches, chapels, and castle ruins everywhere you go in the region. The Veszprém-Balaton 2023 European Capital of Culture Ruin Concert series will fill these ruins with life and art.
The events organised at venues close to nature all take place at the foot of ruins in the Balaton Highlands or in Veszprém, in front of a small audience and with minimal sound and light equipment.
On 28 May, at the foot of the ruins of the Church of Our Lady in Alsódörgicse, László Kollár-Klemencz will open this year’s series with a musical-literary performance. The former frontman of the band Kistehén published his first novel, Öreg banda, in 2021, which will be the backbone of the performance, together with the songs that are linked to it.
On 18 June, in the courtyard of the synagogue in Kővágóörs, the audience can see and hear Veronika Harcsa and Bálint Gyémánt’s performance entitled Lamplight. In the performance, the duo will perform lesser-known poems by well-known 20th century Hungarian poets. The poems were selected and set to music by Veronika Harcsa, with the help of her band members. Guest: saxophone player Mihály Dresch.
On 30 July, at the Margaret Ruins in Veszprém, Rozina Pátkai and her orchestra’s production MINKA x Petőfi offers a special musical and literary journey. The singer has found her way back from bossa nova to experimental electronic music, and from the Portuguese musical tradition to her mother tongue. The works of our national poets will be presented on this special evening, with Sándor Petőfi as the newest protagonist.
On 27 August, also in connection with the Petőfi Memorial Year, at the ruins of the Church of Saint Blaise (Szent Balázs) in Balatoncsicsó, we can hear the performance of the musicians Maszkura (Szabolcs Bíró) and András Petruska, and also actor Zsolt Kathy in the performance Felül a gálya. In addition to the Petőfi poems set to music, there is also a place for classical recitation, but slightly reinterpreted and updated.
With the closing performance of the event series, the organisers aim to fulfil an earlier promise. There was a huge interest in the programme entitled The Great Hymn Story, organised for the Day of the Hungarian Culture, and as the registration places filled up very quickly, it was decided to bring the performance of Krisztián Nyáry and Ádám Bősze back to Veszprém in 2023. The “chamber version” of The Great Hymn Story, accompanied by a single piano, will be performed on 3 September at the Margaret Ruins in Veszprém.
The events in the series can be attended free of charge but require online pre-registration. Registration for the events opens a few weeks before the performances. Registration is now open for the first event, László Kollár-Klemencz’s concert titled Öreg banda.
