Never before have the chamber formations of this world-renowned orchestra given so many (26) free concerts during their Community Week.

Following successful tours in New York and Edinburgh, the musicians of the Budapest Festival Orchestra return to perform in Hungary. Over the course of the coming week, they will perform a total of 26 concerts in 10 counties.

Fans of baroque music performed in a church setting will be able to enjoy Bach’s cantatas, performed using period instruments, in Szeged (9 September), Balatonboglár (10 September) and the Hold utca church in Budapest (11 September).

As before, the orchestra will also give three synagogue concerts during its Autumn Community Week. Albertirsa (10 September) will be a familiar venue. In 2014, the BFO chamber ensemble performed in the synagogue there prior to its renovation; this year they return to the recently renewed building.

The Baja synagogue (11 September), which today functions as a library, beautifully preserves some of the key features of the one-time Jewish temple; the Jánoshalma synagogue (13 September), which today serves as a cultural centre, was renovated in 2000 and showcases original motifs and traditions of orthodox architecture.

This time in Tarnabod, hundreds of interested children will be able to enjoy the playfulness of the interactive Music Castle – featuring prominent roles for audience members – at the elementary school operated there by the Maltese Charity Service, in Jászapáti (Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County) and in Komló (Baranya County).

Additionally, a number of nursing homes for the elderly have indicated that they would be happy to host the Festival Orchestra for a concert; this year, the BFO will visit not 12, but 15 such institutions. And what makes this worthwhile? “I can no longer make it to the opera from here, even though I used to love going. My wheelchair keeps me confined to the home. That’s why it is so nice to be able to listen to beautiful classical music, especially when they play it so well. [...] Music fills me with a sense of calm. It is rejuvenating unlike anything else.” (Mrs. Merényi, “Bogi néni”)

The Budapest Festival Orchestra will hold its next Community week in April.

The Community Week is supported by the National Cultural Fund (NKA), and the Synagogue Concerts are supported by the Art Mentor Foundation Lucerne.

Community Week: Detailed Programme

Church Concerts:

9 September, 7:00 p.m.: Szeged Alsóváros Franciscan Parish Church, Mátyás tér 26.
10 September, 5:00 p.m.: Balatonboglár Lutheran Church, Hétház u. 17.
11 September, 6:00 p.m.: Hold utca Calvinist Church, Budapest, Hold u. 18-20.

Synagogue Concerts:

10 September, 4:00 p.m.: Albertirsa, House of the Arts, Hunyadi u. 7.
11 September, 6:00 p.m.: Baja Endre Ady City Library, Munkácsy Mihály u. 9.
13 September, 5:00 p.m.: Jánoshalma Synagogue, Petőfi Sándor u. 3.

Music Castle - Concerts for Children

13 September, 2:00 p.m.: Komló, Theatre and Concert Hall, 48-as tér 5.
14 September, 2:00 p.m.: Maltese Daycare and Elementary School, Tarnabod, Kossuth tér 3.
15 September, 2:00 p.m.: Jászapáti, Antal Pájer Cultural House, István király u. 6-10.

Playtime - Concerts for the Elderly

11 September, 2:30 p.m.: Albert Schweitzer Calvinist Nursing Home, 1146 Budapest, Hermina út 51.
12 September, 10:00 a.m.: KEM ISZI Esthajnal Home for the Elderly, Pilismarót, Basaharc
12 September, 10:30 a.m.: Budapest Capital Self Government Szombathely Home for the Elderly in Polgárdi, Somlyói u. 2.
12 September, 2:00 p.m.: Providius House Nursing Home, Leányfalu, Móricz u. 177.
12 September, 2:30 p.m.: “Autumn Sunshine” ISZI, Bácsborsód, Dózsa György u. 9.
12 September, 3:00 p.m.: SM Dr Imre Takács Social Home, Tab, Kossuth L. u. 107.
13 September, 10:30 a.m.: Fejér County Care and Nursing Home, Sárosd, Szabadság tér 1.
13 September, 2:00 p.m.: BZSH Újpest Care Centre, Budapest, Liszt F. u. 7.
13 September, 3:00 p.m.: Vas County Unified Social Institution, Acsád, Semmelweis Ignác tér 1.
13 September, 3:00 p.m.: Normafa Nursing Home, Budapest, Normafa út 50.
14 September, 10:00 a.m.: Vác City Self Government Home and Club for the Elderly, Vác, Burgundia út 9-11.
14 September, 10:30 a.m.: Heves County Fenyőliget ESZI, Csány, Csillag u. 27.
14 September, 2:00 p.m.: Olive Branch Homes, Budapest, Vezér u. 151-155.
14 September, 3:00 p.m.: BM Körös-menti Social Centre, Nagyszénás, Táncsics u. 3.
15 September, 10:30 a.m.: Nursing Home, Cegléd, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky u. 1.

Source: The Budapest Festival Orchestra