One of Europe’s premier events, the Budapest Spring Festival returns to the 2014 cultural calendar for its 34th year, from 21st March – 6th April 2014. This year its organisers and Hungarian Tourism have planned the biggest and by far the best Festival yet, with revered performers from both Hungary and around the world, including the Vienna and BBC Philharmonic orchestra.

Over a two week period, Hungarian and international artists including musicians, singers, choirs, designers and dancers will provide a plethora of classical music, opera, dance, theatre productions, ballet, contemporary dance and even circus acts. Each production will take place in one of Hungary’s most prominent cultural hubs, including concerts at the recently renovated Liszt Academy, the Palace of Arts, the Budapest Opera House, the Budapest Music Center, the Urania National Film Theatre, several churches, and many more locations in the city.

Headline acts include the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic who will perform Brahms, Saint-Saëns and Schoenberg under the baton of Zubin Mehta; the BBC Philamonic will also perform with maestro and “percussion magician” Martin Grubinger; for the more contemporary ear, Eighties pop act Matt Bianco joins forces with the Dutch Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw to give a variation of worldwide hits as Don’t Blame It on That Girl, Yeh Yeh, More Than I Can Bear and Get Out of Your Lazy Bed; one of themost iconic opera and pop composers Rufus Wainwright, who has written hit songs for such blockbusters as Moulin Rouge, Shrek, Bridget Jones, and The Aviator will also be performing.

Ildiko Mezo, UK Director, Hungarian Tourism, commented; “The 2014 Festival will provide a taste of the vibrantly colourful and varied cultural scene in one of Europe’s most exciting capitals. In recognition of the event’s growing success and popularity, the investment into this year’s Festival has more than doubled and the majority of events continue to be concerts of classical music, opera, dance and theatre productions, presenting some the brightest international stars.

“Additionally, this year’s programme will be further enriched by film, contemporary, jazz and pop that were less prominently featured in recent decades. The genre of contemporary circus, made popular worldwide by Cirque du Soleil will also be represented for the first time by Recirquel, the first Hungarian company of contemporary circus performers. With countless sell-out shows and a successful foreign tour under their belt, they are now preparing a new production for the Budapest Spring Festival 2014.”

Further information on the full programme is available at www.btf.hu, with a more detailed description of all events and the biographies of the performers. The website also provides information on tickets for all events.

Factbox

Travellers can book hotel rooms in Budapest through www.budapestwinter.com and take advantage of free hotel nights if booking two or three-night stays, plus free entry into one of Budapest’s historic spas, as part of the Budapest Winter Invitation campaign running until 6th April.

Airlines flying direct to Budapest from the UK include British Airways, Easyjet, Jet2, Ryanair and Wizzair.

For further information on Hungary visit uk.gotohungary.com 

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Press Enquiries:

Karin Jones, PR consultant for the Hungarian National Tourist Office (Tues & Thurs)

Tel: 07908 488 492 Email: media@gotohungary.co.uk