11/11/2013
BUDAPEST IS ONE OF THE BEST...
Condé Nast Traveler announced the winners of its annual Readers' Choice Awards, the magazine said this year's list was the most comprehensive ever, with 1.3 million votes arrived. This year Budapest came in second place in The "Top 25 Cities in the World" list together with Florence, while the very top spot was seized by the colonial city of San Miguel de Allende in central Mexico, which took the crown from last year's favorite of Charleston, South Carolina (which was tied for fifth this year).
We are proud of Budapest's high rank just as we are proud of our Guesthouse's score in Booking.com Guest reviews. Current time Budapest GuestRooms have 9.4 scores and our new Danube Aparments scored 9.9, both are listed in the Top10 of all Budapest accomodations based on guest satisfaction.
As winter is commencing we have less and less daylight and temperature on the streets dropping, we can find warmth and pleasure more by inside activities.
Here we gathered some of the programs offered by Budapest during this winter.
MUSIC
OPERA HOUSE & ERKEL THEATRE
The day of the official grand reopening of Erkel Theatre on 07 November is the birthday of the great Hungarian composer Ferenc Erkel (appointed as the Day of Hungarian Opera from now on). The reopened Erkel Theatre will be the second venue of the Hungarian State Opera in Budapest with more than 2000 seats.
Béla Bartók / János Vajda: Bluebeard / Mario - Operas in one act - Première 9 November
Over the course of nearly 100 years, the symbolist drama Bluebeard has been partnered with just as many other works, although it has never been played together with János Vajda’s Mario. In this unique interpretation, the two tragedies (Bluebeard and Mario) share an embodiment of the heady possibility of rising above the common man.
Further dates: 9, 12, 14, 16, 21 and 23 November 2013 Erkel Theatre
György Selmeczi: I spiritisti ( Spiritualists) - Opera in two acts - World Premiére 19 January 2014
Further dates: 19, 22, 25 and 28 January 2014 Opera House
Ferenc Lehár – Ronald Hynd: The Merry Widow - Comic ballet in three parts - Hungarian Premiére 22 February 2014
Dates: 22, 23, 26 and 27 February 2014; 1, 2, 5 and 6 March 2014 Erkel Theatre
And of course the ever classic ballet: The Nutcracker is on stage through all December.
Just pick your Opera House Programme: http://www.opera.hu/en/opera/musor/201311
LISZT ACADEMY of MUSIC
After ten years of renovation, the Liszt Academy of Music reopened on October 22. The reopening of the famous institution, founded in 1875, also marked the 202nd birth anniversary of its founder, Ferenc ( Franz ) Liszt. The academy nurtures the cultural heritage of Liszt, Kodály, Bartók, Dohnányi, Erkel, Solti ...
The Academy not only serves as a higher institution for musicology and musical art, but as a concert centre as well. The main building, with five concert halls, is the hub of concert life in the capital. Virtually every significant performer and ensemble of the 20th century has appeared on the stage of the Grand Hall, exhaling their art onto the invisible wavelengths of the incomparable acoustics of the chamber, merging it into the spellbound audience, an audience that surrounds the artist in the same way that a clapper is encompassed by the body of a bell. The most significant young talents introduce themselves in this unrivalled atmosphere, students of the academy can share in this as can those individuals yearning for music who make up the audience of the Liszt Academy.
Just pick your Liszt Academy Programme: http://zeneakademia.hu/en/all-programs
BMC – BUDAPEST MUSIC CENTER
Since its day of opening the main aim of the Budapest Music Center has been to present values of Hungarian music in its complexity and entirety. The company's objective is to actively participate in helping Hungarian music culture take the place it deserves in the world - by creating products and services that meet the demands of the music audience of the 21st century, focusing on jazz and other streams. Next to that you can find here some of the city's best fineburgers.
Just pick your BMC Programme: http://bmc.hu/ #!/Programs
EXHIBITIONS
BALNA
The Bálna (whale ) that prominently rests on the side of Pest's riverbank, between the Petőfi and Szabadság bridges - opens up on 8 November.
The Balna will function as a cultural, gastronomic, and commercial centre by offering something different on each floor. On level -1 there will be flea & antique and organic local food markets, on the ground floor restaurants and shops, and on the other floors there are showrooms, and the ' New Budapest Gallery' will welcome visitors.
The New Budapest Gallery, which is located on the second floor of the Balna will present outstanding Hungarian and international oeuvres and art groups and works of 20th century and contemporary art. The first exhibition, entitled Budapest Immersion – 2013 and curated by Gábor Andrási, Péter Fitz and Tamás Török, will present a wide array of works reflecting present-day tendencies in art. With this opening exhibition, the almost sixty artists working and living in Hungary’s capital who were invited to participate will “take possession” of this space.
MUSEUM of FINE ARTS – CARAVAGGIO to CANALETTO
The Museum of Fine Arts’ exhibition titled Caravaggio to Canaletto presents the leading styles,outstanding artist figures as well as the extraordinary wealth of genres, techniques and themes of 17th- and 18th-century Italian painting through more than 140 works by 100 masters, including nine paintings – the highest number by a single artist included in the displayed material – by the period’s prominent painter genius, Caravaggio.
http://www.szepmuveszeti.hu/exhibitions/caravaggio-to-canaletto-1015
CHRISTMAS MARKETS
Budapest is full of Christmas markets, which open mid November. What makes many of the Christmas markets really enticing and outstanding in Budapest is that there is a real focus on trying to preserve authentic Hungarian folk art, traditions and offer really good quality handcrafts rather than commercialized kitchy Christmas gifts.
Should you require any help in organising Your programme, purchasing your ticket or are interested in other programme possibilities don't hesitate to contact us.
Take the advantage of low season flight prices and enjoy our cultural scene, we are looking forward to welcome you here.
Warm Regards,
Budapest GuestRooms Team
