“Bartók’s œuvre has an unparalleled power and significant influence worldwide: he composed exceptional works, collected a rich body of folk music, and was an exemplary humanist, whose curiosity, visceral talent and wisdom – which was stimulated by the order of nature he admired – made him one of the most inspiring figures in Hungarian culture,” says Csaba Káel, CEO of Müpa Budapest, the organizer of the festival. The most beautiful challenge, he points out, of the programme series that was launched on the 140th anniversary of Béla Bartók’s birth, is to represent his spirit in countless genres, in the works of the best contemporary artists.

 

Although in 2021, owing to the pandemic, the first Bartók Spring could only be realized in the digital space, it attracted enormous attention worldwide, and its programme showed that viewers can expect extraordinary co-productions, premieres, brand new performances and special concerts created specifically for the festival – and the Bartók Spring International Arts Weeks of 2022 will be no different. The festival will proudly present the Hungarian premiere of Péter Eötvös’s Sleepless, an opera commissioned by the Berlin Staatsoper, and a production of Bartók’s legendary The Miraculous Mandarin, by Kossuth Prize-winning choreographer Pál Frenák and his company. Recirquel’s new show, PRAYER, will bring its viewers an extraordinary experience of space, while Boban Marković’s orchestra makes an appearance with the Székesfehérvár Ballet Theatre.

Pianist David Fray joins forces with the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, István Várdai and Kristóf Baráti, for a brilliant programme of Beethoven, Ton Koopman and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra bring Bach’s Mass in B minor, and the world-famous Batsheva Dance Company will perform three of Ohad Naharin’s fantastic choreographies.

Violinist Julia Fischer and the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin will perform in the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, Anthony Roth Costanzo, who was named singer of the year in 2019, will enchant his audience with a recital of arias, and Collegium Vocale Gent, the world-famous Belgian ensemble that was founded over half a century ago, will be guided through their festival programme at the Liszt Academy by the founding conductor, Philippe Herreweghe.

 

Branford Marsalis, one of the most influential figures in contemporary jazz, returns to the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall with his quartet, where the audience of the Bartók Spring can hear a brand new piece that was commissioned by Müpa Budapest, and was inspired by Hungarian folk music. As one of the spring sensations of the rock music scene, EELS, the cult American band led by Mark Oliver Everett, will give its first concert in Hungary at the festival. Bartók’s figure and œuvre also played a decisive role in the creation of Budapest Ritmo, Hungary’s newest and largest world music festival: the much-loved programme series will again be part of the Bartók Spring!

 

Along with the concerts and dance shows, the festival will have not-to-be-missed dates for the lovers of the visual arts as well. Between Heaven and Hell: The Mysterious World of Hieronymus Bosch, the largest exhibition ever in Central Europe of the art of Bosch will open at the Museum of Fine Arts as an event of the Bartók Spring. Extended Present: Global States of Transitoriness opens on 7 April; with it, Ludwig Museum brings a highly topical international exhibition to the programme.

 

Further world stars and productions will be announced later, says Müpa Budapest CEO Csaba Káel, because in 2022 the Bartók Spring International Arts Weeks will go national, bringing vibrant events to other cities as well, including Győr, Debrecen and Miskolc, while Pécs and Szeged join the national festival with the performances of their ensembles. The details and highlighted performers of the national programme of the Bartók Spring International Arts Weeks will be revealed in 2022.

 

So there is a reason to wait for the spring of 2022, and the countdown has begun: five months from now, from the first day of April, 2022, the Bartók Spring International Arts Weeks will help the lovers of culture to recharge with unmissable events and unforgettable experiences.