In the framework of a large-scale three-day festival, we present the rich musical and cultural palette of Hungarian nationalities with their leading, outstanding, defining performers in the co-organization of the Kalyi Jag ensemble.
Kalyi Jag ensemble (Roma folk music)
The Kalyi Jag Ensemble is an outstanding pioneer of Roma world music. Their musical style floods the world like a river and their music has become a concept. More than four decades ago, Gusztv Varga had a dream: to sing and write songs for the first time in Europe in his own mother tongue, Gypsy. He formed the Kalyi Jag (Black Fire) Ensemble, whose fame traveled all over the world like wildfire, achieving world success in one fell swoop.
After several tours around the world and platinum records, they continue to work, continuing their mission as ambassadors of the most original gypsy folk music. Their songs are humming by thousands of fans around the world. Countless musicians around the world play and process their songs, which live in people as a unique Kalyi Jag style, now as a real Hungaricum.
The legendary Kalyi Jag Ensemble has developed an unmistakable distinctive style that sets them apart from all other gypsy ensembles. They are distinguished not only by their excellent vocal abilities, inimitable virtuoso instrumental techniques, but also by their unusual 40 years of experience on stages.
The band Kalyi Jag has started a new project in the music industry. Gipsy Gold Sounds provides an unforgettable experience for the audience. The vocals of Andrea, Krisztina and Ilona, Zsigmond and Guszti take the listener back to the romance of the Gypsies living in the past and fly him forward into the sound of 21st century world music. Jzsi's harmonious articulated mouth bass, Laci's sophisticated instrumental knowledge and virtuosity, Gyuri's accordion, keyboard or double bass playing create a wonderful atmosphere.
With the current line-up of the ensemble, it has already fulfilled the invitation of Pope Francis, as the Ensemble has also created the first Gipsy Gospel production. In 2016, His Holiness Pope Francis consecrated the Ensembles Audio in the Vatican, Nervi Hall, in front of 5,000 people. Today, pastoral songs are also sung in the churches by the faithful in Roma and Hungarian.
The Kalyi Jag Ensemble is the most recognized and worthy representative of authentic gypsy culture from Hungary to Hollywood, Sao Paolo to Washington and New York to Tokyo.
Koborzengo Band and Lipa Dance Ensemble (Slovak folk music)
The Koborzengo (Wandering) Band and the Lipa Dance Ensemble, whose artistic director is va Szilgyin Suba, have been working together for almost three decades to nurture the Hungarian folklore traditions in Hungary and the Carpathian Basin. They are connected by many, many joint performances, foreign festivals, guest appearances and the same amount of in-depth rehearsal workshop work. Their story is very familiar: the youngest members of the guard performing today were literally born and raised in this world; the dancers also learned to play music, the musicians learned to dance.
In addition to the virtuoso and vigorous dances of Eastern Slovakia, the program also includes the more peaceful, cheerful Western Slovak circus and polka. You will be able to see the dances of the Slovaks of the Southern Great Plain, traditionally coexisting with the Hungarians: the csrds and the migrating mars.
The band's solo performance will feature one of the most popular music in the mountains of Central Slovakia, the great pride of the Slovaks: the string music of Gyetva. In addition, you can hear many typically Slovak melodies, as well as songs that, like the csrds, can be considered a common folklore treasure of the Hungarians and the Slovaks. The production ends with the dances of the Szilgyi-Suba family, the birthplace of Hegykz in Zempln.
Mydros Band (Greek folk music)
This years twenty-year-old Mydros band was founded in 2001 by Greek and Hungarian youth to share with everyone the joy that Greek music and dance has given them since childhood and to provide cultured entertainment for all ages with their dance houses. They have taken the stage more than 1,300 times since their founding. In addition to domestic and foreign music festivals, he is a regular performer of Greek dance houses, dinner evenings, ethnic programs, and Greek-Hungarian weddings. The ensemble also organized a holiday in Greece for its audience ten times. So far, two records have been released. Their orchestration is most conducive to Greek urban music, but their repertoire of more than 380 songs also includes traditional folk music and contemporary Greek music.
Martenica ensemble (Bulgarian folk music)
The Martenica Ensemble was formed in 1982 by young people attending dance houses in the Balkans to take part in the 1983 "Who Knows What?" television talent search competition. As a result of one year of hard work, they won first place in the folk dance category for the best group. The small ensemble has been constantly evolving in terms of staff, repertoire and professional knowledge. The Bulgarian dances have been accompanied over the years by several ensembles, including Pravo, Sndrg and the great Ensemble.
Due to their lucky coincidence, the Martenica ensemble has dancers who, thanks to their singing and instrumental training, can authentically display the wonderful Balkan melodies. The number one goal in the selection of the music was to provide the most typical dances of different regions of Bulgaria. They have a wide repertoire. Kaval and harmonica can be heard as solo instruments, while the songs can be admired in two or three parts. An exciting world of melody and rhythm characterizes the program of the ensemble.
Teswer (Roma R&B, rap)
The success story of the Teswr team started in 2019. At first, the team consisted of 4 members (Hybrid, Imir, Flex, Young Veteran), but not long after, Beat (Black Train), Atis joined and the first official clip of the full line-up, Hunt for Luck, was released, which currently has 11 million views, but many of their appearances have reached millions of views.
Opanke Dance Group (Serbian folk music and dance)
The Opanke Serbian Traditional Cultural Association was founded in 1983 and has been active ever since. The main goal of our association is to nurture Serbian and South Slavic culture, collect dances, music, traditions and pass them on to future generations. During the more than 35 years of work, we work continuously with 3 age groups, the child with the youth group and the adult group. We are regular participants in domestic festivals, exhibitions, folklore meetings and we also receive invitations abroad. We are constantly expanding our repertoire. After several years, they have a permanent accompanying band, the Zora band, which makes the Association's presentation and performances better.