Festival director Gábor Hollerung announced at a press conference at the Wine Church in Sátoraljaújhely that a diverse, varied and enjoyable program has been put together for the largest festival in the Zemplén region.  

In addition to the government, a private individual is supporting the event with 50 million forints and several companies operating in the region are also sponsoring the festival.

The festival director highlighted that the program series includes many styles and genres, in addition to classical music and jazz concerts, there will also be world music, chamber productions, dance and children's programs and exhibitions. 

He pointed out that in addition to the programs, the region is the attraction of the Zemplén Festival: the gentle hills, the well-groomed vineyards, the picturesque villages hidden among the mountains, their churches and the traditions and customs, complemented by the historical past, the gastronomy, the people living here and of course the Tokaj wine.

The festival will be opened by the Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra (BDZ) on August 8 at the Rákóczi Castle in Sárospatak with Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto in B minor and Bartók's Concerto. 

This orchestra will also host a special artist, Dimitry Yudin, a laureate of the Ferenc Liszt International Piano Competition in New York, will perform at the opening.

The BDZ will also be represented in the August program series with numerous concerts and formations. In addition to Sárospatak, they will also perform in Sátoraljaújhely, Szerencs and Tokaj.

In the latter city, they will present a special concert entitled Queen Symphony and Concert Show, where they will perform the songs of the legendary British rock band, joined by the Budapest Academic Choir and the dancers of the ARLtistic Dance Company.

Jazz lovers will not be left without programs either, concerts are held every evening of the festival at the Sárospatak wine terrace, and jazz music is played in several wineries alongside wine tastings.

There will be several folk music concerts and literary performances, as well as a special program combining literature, informal conversation and gastronomy in a Sátoraljaújhely apartment restaurant, where those interested can enjoy dinner after János Lackfi's evening.

The Zemplén Festival is expanding with new venues, churches in several small settlements are joining the programs, and a concert will also be held in the renovated courtyard of the Rákóczi Castle in Borsi in the Hungarian Highlands.

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Zemplén Festival

Photo courtesy: Nagy Karoly Zsolt