The Budapest Spring Festival is one of the most renowned events in the Hungarian cultural calendar and this year takes place from 10th to 26th April. Covering three weekends and it gives visitors to the Hungarian capital a unique opportunity to see some of the world's top performers and orchestras, including the British Philharmonia Orchestra.

Hungarian and international artists including musicians, singers, choirs, designers and dancers will provide a plethora of classical music, opera, dance, theatre productions, ballet and contemporary dance. Each production takes place in one of Hungary's most prominent cultural hubs, including concerts at the Liszt Academy, the Palace of Arts, the Budapest Opera House, the Budapest Music Center and the Urania National Film Theatre.

One of the highlights this year is a special production created by British pianist Ashley Wass and violinist Matthew Trusler to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The production will raise funds for the UK-based Lenny Trusler Children's Foundation (www.lcf.co.uk) set up following the death of Matthew Trusler's son, Lenny, from a rare kidney disease.

Twelve musicians of worldwide renown - including Mark-Anthony Turnage, Elvis Costello, Ilya Gringolts, and Carl Davis - wrote short pieces for each of the chapters of the novel.
The excerpts from the novel and the related musical compositions offer an exciting and complex cross section of the book, and during 2015 the show travels to several other countries in Europe and Asia.

Other highlights include the world-famous David Sanborn, a six times Grammy-winner saxophonist, who will perform at the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall; the Hungarian State Opera presenting János Mohácsi's production of Aida at the Erkel Theatre, with a home-grown cast bolstered by Italian tenor Fabio Sartori as Radamès and the Hungarian National Philharmonic joined by young Russian pianist Denis Matsuev for Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto no. 3 in D minor.  

Winner of 10 Grammy awards, innovative singer Bobby McFerrin will perform “SpiritYouAll”, an album project honouring his opera-singer father, which embraces blues, folk and rock influences in an ongoing exploration of faith and the human voice. The performance shifts seamlessly between lyrics and wordless lines, swapping phrases with his band and inviting the audience to sing along.

Latvian mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča will also give a sumptuous programme of French and Russian arias and orchestral guests include the British Philharmonia Orchestra and Vladimir Ashkenazy, helping to mark Sibelius' 150th anniversary.

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

Tickets can be bought also on the Bachtrack website: http://bachtrack.com/preview-budapest-spring-festival-2015 

Factbox

Lastminute.com is offering three-night packages to Budapest travelling with Wizzair from Luton and including bed and breakfast accommodation at the 4* Continental Hotel Zara from £235 per person, travelling Thursday 16th April to Sunday 19th April 2015. Guests also get access to the Continental Spa and free wifi.

Ends

For further media information contact:

Press Enquiries:

Karin Jones, PR consultant for the Hungarian Tourism (Tues & Thurs only)
Tel: 07908 488 492 Email: media@gotohungary.co.uk 
Agnes Zsebo-Ferenczi, Marketing and Business Admin for Hungarian Tourism
Tel: 020 7 823 1055 Email: marketing@gotohungary.co.uk