Extending once again beyond the borders of Budapest, the fifth Bartók Spring, which delighted the lovers of culture with exceptional events in Győr, Pécs and Miskolc as well, closed on 18 May.

Held between 24 April and 18 May, the multi-arts festival that keeps Bartók’s ideals alive highlighted the most compelling trends in today’s performing arts with premieres and world stars, presenting 165 events (90 of them free) at 40 venues.

Enthusiasts of both progressive novelties and old masterpieces were catered to: the House of Music Hungary rang with the exotic music of Arooj Aftab, Jan Garbarek and Trilok Gurtu dazzled audiences in Müpa Budapest, the Kodály Centre and the Richter Hall with their inimitable stage presence, the dancers of Bandaloop walked on walls, Olivier Grossetête built paper buildings in the centre of Győr and Budapest, Ballet Hispánico reimagined Carmen, and the Ballet Company of Győr staged GisL with music by Félix Lajkó. Offering concerts and collaborations, as well as a professional conference, the tenth Budapest Ritmo pampered those who love performers mixing ancient traditions and modern music, and the Ritmo PIKNIK offered creative events for children and families, as well as pop-up concerts of world and folk music in all three cities in the country.

Good times were guaranteed for those who love classical music because the Münchner Philharmoniker appeared in its first Budapest concert with Barnabás Kelemen, Diana Damrau and Jonas Kaufmannb gave a joint lied recital, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment enchanted the audience with Bach’s St Matthew Passion, and Julia Pusker captivated listeners at the concert of the Kammerorchester Basel.

There were plenty of multi-arts and dance performances: De Scheherezade, the grand dance production of the María Pagés Compañía, offered an incomparable experience with the exciting blend of traditional flamenco and Moroccan music. Several movements from Bartók’s Mikrokosmos came to life in the landscape of the Mezőség, in a joint production that featured the dancers of the Corvinus Közgáz Dance Ensemble, the actors of Forte Company and students of the Academy of Drama and Film. With Pure Source, the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble and the Ballet Company of Győr explored 20th-century modernists’ exposure to folk music through the work of Bach and the collections of Bartók.

Literary events and exhibitions were of course in the programme again. The spring Margó Literary Festival once again welcomed book lovers with the best-known names of the Hungarian literary scene. With its exhibition, The Art of Living, which is open until 5 October, the Hungarian National Gallery explores the development of the art of the poster with works by Gustav Klimt and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, among others, while the over 200 objects on view outline Art Nouveau material culture.

The meeting of artists from all over the world and their Hungarian counterparts led to some unforgettable moments at the venues of the Bartók Spring. Let’s relive some of the greatest memories here.