Mária Petrás and the Szigony Ensemble A Zeneakadémia saját szervezésű programja

The dance house movement launched in the early 1970s is frequently associated with Transylvanian string music. There is no doubt that, at the beginning, attention was directed to these areas, but a good decade later the scope began to broaden. A lanky, ascetic-like, round-spectacled young man nicknamed ‘Szigony’ founded the legendary Tatros in 1988. Róbert Kerényi played a key role in teaching the public about Moldavian and Gyimes folk music and dance. Thousands found themselves under the thrall of dynamic round dances, archaic folk songs and folk melodies. The new trend rapidly proved its intense vitality, sparking a ‘chain reaction’ among contemporary artists: primarily alternative theatres took up the cause. Róbert Kerényi has been head of the Szigony orchestra since 1997. The formation follow the traditions of old rural orchestras, playing Gyimes and Moldavian Hungarian folk music. Their performances flow according to their own internal laws, as moments weave together into ten-minute ‘epics’. This concert selects from Moldavia’s most beautiful music: sacred chants, customary songs, ballads, songs from the spinning room and dance melodies. Their partner is Moldavian-born Mária Petrás, best known as permanent guest singer with Muzsikás.