Müpa Budapest

• Over 1,000 performances to take place in 2016, ranging from Müpa’s world-famous Classical music and opera programme through to contemporary Circus and Jazz
• UK visitor numbers to Hungary have risen by 40% in the past five years – Müpa is the biggest performing arts venue in Budapest and has welcomed more than 5 million visitors since 2005
• Müpa Budapest continues to attract the world’s top performers, highlights in the 2016 progamme: Vienna Philharmonic, Valery Gergiev, Hélène Grimaud, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Diana Damrau, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Gidon Kremer, Mikhail Pletnev, Ton Koopman, James Rutherford, Bo Skovhus, Waltraud Meier, Annette Dasch
• 10^th anniversary of the biggest concert hall organ on the European continent celebrated with a 24-hour festival (21 – 22 May)
• Three of the world’s most in-demand soloists on the Müpa stage together for a one off performance; Kristóf Baráti (Violin), István Várdai (Cello) and Dénes Várjon (Piano)(10 May)
• To attend a performance or for images please contact: mupa@kallaway.com

With glorious outdoor thermal baths, gothic masterpieces and world-leading performing arts spaces, it’s no wonder that Budapest has become a must-visit destination for travelers wanting more from a weekend away. Fly from London in 2.5hrs for just £35 one-way (Norwegian Airlines) and soak up the best the Hungarian Capital has to offer at Müpa Budapest in 2016, the jewel in Budapest’s cultural crown.

Next year Müpa will hold over 1,000 performances. Acoustically brilliant, Müpa is a space that hosts events ranging from classical concerts and opera through to contemporary dance and circus, similar to London’s Barbican. Here we pull out some of the highlights to book now: 

• Mendelssohn-Schumann Marathon (31 January) – One of the most popular events at Müpa is the annual marathon, a day packed with 11 concerts on two stages by the best Hungarian soloists and orchestras. This year sees a link being drawn between Mendelssohn and Schumann.

• Early Music Festival (2 – 6 March) – The largest of its kind in Hungary, the festival focuses on French baroque music with special guests Le Poème Harmonique and Capella Cracoviensis with Vincent Dumestre. The collaboration with the Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles continues with a production of the Mondonville opera Isbé with the finest period performance practice ensembles of Hungary, Purcell Choir and Orfeo Orchestra, and conductor György Vashegyi.

• Kristóf Baráti, István Várdai and Dénes Várjon (10 May) – A rare chance to see three of the world’s most in-demand soloists on stage together.

• Organ 10 festival (21 – 22 May) – The 10th anniversary of the inauguration of the Müpa organ – the largest concert organ on the European continent will be marked with a special 24-hour festival in May.

• Wagner in Budapest (16 – 26 June) – Praised by the critics of New York Times, Bachtrack and Classic FM, this festival isone of Müpa’s most sought-after annual events attended by Wagner fans around the world. One to tick off the cultural bucket list.

As well as these five classical music highlights, Müpa’s programme has something for everyone and throughout 2016 it will continue to embrace a colourful array of genres; from quality jazz, world music an pop concerts through to contemporary circus, literature evenings, dance and youth and children’s programmes. In the start of next year, the Jazz Showcase festival returns (22 – 24 January) followed byJazz Spring (7 – 9 May) and Hey, June!, a showcase of Hungary’s leading pop artists, in June. The highly acclaimed Recirquel Contemporary Circus Company will also run return for several performances throughout the year.

For more information or to book tickets, visit www.mupa.hu.

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Notes to Editors

Müpa Budapest Contact

Budapest
Komor Marcell u. 1.
1095 Hungary
Telephone: +36 1 555 3000
https://www.mupa.hu/en
info@mupa.hu
Press inquiries: press@mupa.hu

About Müpa Budapest

Müpa Budapest is one of Hungary's best known cultural brands and one of its most modern cultural institutions. It provides a home for classical, contemporary, popular and world music, not to mention jazz and opera, as well as contemporary circus, dance, literature and film. The venue opened its doors in 2005, and plays a major role in nurturing cultural relationships with other countries, in advancing Hungarian interests, and in increasing international recognition for Hungarian performing artists. An active member of European largest organisation for concert halls (ECHO), Müpa Budapest promotes professional exchange and helps the career of young exceptional artists, teaming up with venues like the Barbican Centre London, Sage Gateshead and the Town Hall & Symphony Hall Birmingham.

Müpa's multi-genre repertoire currently spawns to over a thousand events a year. In the past five years Hungary has been experiencing a staggering 40% rise in the number of visitors from the United Kingdom, making it the third largest tourist source country. Similarly, Hungary’s most prestigious venue attracts from year to year a growing number of some of the most outstanding British artists such as Simon Rattle, John Eliot Gardiner, Neville Marriner, Roger Norrington, Daniel Harding, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and orchestras like the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, English Baroque Soloists and Monteverdi Choir, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Britten Sinfonia and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. During its first 10 years, some of the most memorable performances of the Müpa Budapest have been given by Elvis Costello, Ian Bostridge, Simon Keenlyside, John McLaughlin, Marianne Faithfull, The King's Singers, Hilliard Ensemble, Sam Lee, Michael Nyman, Karl Jenkins, Bryn Terfel, Jonny Greenwood and Mark Padmore, just to name a few. Movie enthusiasts can recognize the hallmark spaces of Müpa during the scenes of Ridley Scott's movie The Martian.

Müpa Budapest will announce its programme for the 2016/2017 season in March 2016.