Hungarian-Turkish cultural season started with an impressive gala evening

The Hungarian-Turkish cultural season kicked off with a stunning gala evening on Monday, marking the beginning of a year filled with diverse cultural events between the two nations.

The opening ceremony was attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey Katalin Novák and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Centenary celebrations

In his opening speech, Government Commissioner Péter Hoppál emphasised that the friendship between the two nations traces back to the times preceding Hungary’s conquest.

“A wealth of linguistic, archaeological, folk music and ethnographic evidence confirms the friendly kinship between Hungarian and Turkish culture”, the Government Commissioner responsible for the cultural year stressed. Additionally, he mentioned Hungarian freedom heroes, such as Prince Ferenc Rákóczi II and Governor Lajos Kossuth, who had found refuge in Turkey.

Hoppál recalled that a century ago marked the initiation of a new chapter in the history of collaboration between Hungarians and Turks.

He outlined that Hungary’s year-long cultural celebration would showcase the richness of Turkish culture, coinciding with a parallel Hungarian cultural year in Turkey.

Hungarian🇭🇺 and Turkish🇹🇷 cultures are both rich and – as a result of mutual influence – have much in common. So with @RTErdogan and his wife we attended the openning concert of the Hungarian-Turkish Cultural Year, launched on the ocasion of the Centenary of our diplomatic… pic.twitter.com/xFoVvDfiAm

— Katalin Novák (@KatalinNovak_HU) December 18, 2023

Musical Harmony

The opening gala showcased performances by Hungarian and Turkish soloists, along with the orchestra and dance troupe of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble, the Orchestra of the Hungarian State Opera House, and the Ankara State Modern Dance Company of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Broadcast live on Hungarian (M5) and Turkish public media, the opening gala at Müpa Palace was framed by a symphonic composition inspired by the melodies of both nations. The programme featured waltzing dervishes, Csángó songs, janissary and hajdu dances, as well as large orchestral works and opera pieces.

The Hungarian State Opera House Orchestra was conducted by Kornél Fekete-Kovács, leader of the Modern Art Orchestra, and Cemi’i Can Deliorman, music director and chief conductor of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Turkey.

The gala evening was directed by Csaba Káel, Kossuth and Nádasdy Kálmán Kálmán Prize-winning film director and CEO of Müpa Budapest, and choreographed by Gábor Mihályi and Soner Sati.

The year-long Hungarian-Turkish Cultural Year, spanning both nations, will be featured across public service channels with educational content, films, series, cultural events, and concerts, connecting to the events of the year.

“I believe that the Hungarian-Turkish Cultural Season is a great opportunity to bring the two nations even closer. Special Turkish and Hungarian music and folk dance selections were performed by Turkish and Hungarian artists, and 42 artists from Türkiye came to Budapest for the event. In the framework of the Year of Culture 2024, at least 100 cultural events reflecting Turkish culture and art will take place across Hungary. The closing event will again be a joint event and will be held in Türkiye next year”,

said HE Gülsen Karanis Ekşioğlu, Türkiye’s ambassador to Hungary.

President Erdoğan attends opening event of Türkiye-Hungary Culture Year https://t.co/hfEan6hJck pic.twitter.com/bi5hZRDI4L

— Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye (@trpresidency) December 18, 2023

As we reported earlier, PM Orbán had signed bilateral key strategic partnership agreement with President Erdogan, details HERE

While on Monday, Hungary and Türkiye had signed a new agreement for the most extensive energy cooperation ever, details HERE.