Through Four Seasons' Eyes Budapest - IMEX America

Classical Music Venues
A treat for the ears and for the soul
134
Béla Bartók
Memorial House
(II. Csalán utca 29;
www.bartokmuseum.hu)
This was Béla Bartók’s last
residence in Hungary before
he emigrated to the US in
1940. Its idyllic location in
the hills of Buda ref lects
Bartók’s preference for
working and living in a
natural environment and it is
here that he wrote many of his
greatest works. The composer’s
personal belongings, including
his Bösendorfer piano, can be
viewed in the museum while
chamber concerts are held at
least three times a week in the
intimate concert hall, which
seats 120, or in the peaceful
garden during summer
months.
Hungarian Radio
Marble Hall
(VIII. Pollack Mihály tér 8)
An elegant setting inside the
Hungarian Radio building
hosts intimate piano and
chamber music concerts
as well as classic jazz
performances. The formal hall
decorated head to toe in white
marble can accommodate up to
120 guests.
Hungarian
State Opera House
(VI. Andrássy út 22; www.opera.hu)
This beautiful neo-Renaissance
building is the crown jewel
of Andrássy út and one of the
greatest accomplishments of
renowned architect Miklós Ybl.
The Opera House first opened
its doors in 1884 and has had
an illustrious line of musical
directors including Gustav
Mahler and Otto Klemperer.
Its ornate exterior is a
showstopper while the lavish
interior features world-class
acoustics, beautiful murals and
sculptural details by leading
artists of the day. Performance
season runs from September
to June and features, for the
most part, German and Italian
repertoire, with classical music
concerts thrown in for good
measure.
L’Istituto Italiano
di Cultura
(VIII. Bródy Sándor utca 8;
www.iicbudapest.esteri.it)
Although the mandate of the
Italian Cultural Institute is
to promote cultural relations
between Italy and Hungary,
that does not preclude it
from hosting classical music
concerts that have no direct
link to either country. Fine
Italian and Hungarian
musicians feature in the
program, as do orchestras
and solo musicians from as
far afield as South Korea and
Japan. The large concert hall
at this centrally located venue
is also a good spot to check
out the renowned Budapest
Festival Orchestra.
Palace of Arts
(XI. Komor Marcell utca 1;
www.mupa.hu)
A serious space for serious
classical music, the MUPA,
as it is often called, hosts
prestigious orchestras and
soloists from here and abroad