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.