The House of Music Hungary is celebrating World Music Day with the launch of a new online series that will showcase exclusive performances recorded in its concert hall. The initiative aims to make the institution’s unique productions accessible even to those unable to attend in person, whether due to distance or cost.
The Live Session series will debut on 1 October with two special concert clips: one featuring American composer, singer, and interdisciplinary artist Meredith Monk, and another with the Quinteto Astor Piazzolla, the ensemble preserving the legacy of Argentine tango innovator Astor Piazzolla. Each video highlights both the performers and the striking spaces of the House of Music.
Meredith Monk, considered a pioneer of vocal and interdisciplinary art, is known for using the human voice beyond traditional lyrics, blending theatrical, folk, and experimental elements. She performed in Budapest earlier this year, where her work ‘Simple Sorrow’ resonated deeply with audiences through its reflection on isolation during the pandemic. The Quinteto Astor Piazzolla, meanwhile, carries forward Piazzolla’s revolutionary nuevo tango style, merging classical, jazz, and contemporary sounds. Their Live Session performance, recorded after their July concert at the House of Music, includes ‘Michaelangelo 70’, composed around 1970.
Beyond the new digital programme, the House of Music is offering a wide-ranging series of live events throughout October. These include a folk music and contemporary dance collaboration titled Love Tales on 2 October, an electronic and improvisational evening with Austrian pioneer Fennesz and Polish guitarist Raphael Roginski on 3 October, and family-friendly concerts such as Danny Bain’s musical theatre show Jack, the Savior on 4 October.
Highlights later in the month include a tribute to Arvo Pärt, discussions on mental health accompanied by music and art, and performances by ensembles such as Subcarpati, Slow Village, Kerekes Band, Romano Drom, and Besh o droM.
The programme culminates with a blend of traditional and experimental projects, including Máté Mészáros’s multidisciplinary production The Mechanics of Distance and the launch of a new four-part discussion series, the Pop Culture Club Library, focusing on the past 25 years of Hungarian popular music.
With its new Live Session series and a packed October schedule, the House of Music Hungary reinforces its mission to expand access to music and highlight its role as a space where tradition, innovation, and community come together.
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