Location: Budapest
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Top 10 Concerts & Shows in Budapest, Central Hungary
Over 15 million gallons of water bubble daily into Budapest's 118 springs and boreholes. The city of spas offers an astounding array of baths, from the sparkling Gellert Baths to the vast 1913 neo-baroque Szechenyi Spa to Rudas Spa, a dramatic 16th-century Turkish pool with original Ottoman architecture. The "Queen of the Danube" is also steeped in history, culture and natural beauty. Get your camera ready for the Roman ruins of the Aquincum Museum, Heroes' Square and Statue Park, and the 300-foot dome of St. Stephen's Basilica.
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1. Dumaszinhaz
2. Orkeny Theatre
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By stinkwink - Sydney, Australia
When arriving through a huge arch, and watch this theatre from outside, you expect something large, according to the columnar entrance, even monumental. In the lobby, you still can think that there are long rows of chairs waiting for you, only after a few stairs - if you have a ticket to the balcony, you have fought yourself up quite a few stairs - you will be surprised to find that there is only a small auditorium for the big stage. I was lucky last night at the István Örkény Theater to see the Shaxpearre washer of Kertész street. It was a hard job to get tickets. It was a modern, very modern Romeo and Juliett story, where the youngsters are all more or less drog addicts, drinking cursing and everyone are having a promiscuous life. On weekend evenings on the streets of Budapest, something very similar can be seen as was on the stage. When I heard, that some people found it too much and left, I was thinking, what can they do in real life? Escape? Stay behind the walls of their home? Immigrate? Like it or not, that is the reality. Behind the rough, rambunctious behavior, is often a gentle soul is hiding. Shouting, swearing is just the surface, that the young fellow uses to cover up his feelings with. It was a phenomenal performance that we are used to from the Örkény theater team. Although I enjoyed every minute of the show, at home I did watch Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet for a bit. Just for the sake of contrast.
3. Thalia Theater
4. Katona Jozsef Theater
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
5. Bethlen Theater
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Bethlen Theatre ...where past meets present In the outer part of the 7th district of Budapest, at Bethlen Gabor square is where our tiny theater is located. In 2012, it was re-named as Bethlen Theatre – the same name it had before it was closed in 1937. The change of name went hand in hand with a change of profile: before the reopening, the place functioned as a dance theater for more than 15 years; since then it is a production theater. Its objective is to revive by the efficient help of contemporary art, young artists and performers without genre limitations. The programs here are organised on the basis of art community. The four pillars – prose and dance performances, children plays and comedy – have been extended with genres, such as visual theatre, impromptu theatre and folk performances. Festivals, contemporary dance and theater performances, Sunday plays for children, free screenings, and exhibitions at the Gallery await the audience every month.
6. Sala de Conciertos Nacional Bela Bartok
7. Hungarian State Opera House (Magyar Allami Operahaz)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,675 reviews
This magnificent new-Renaissance style structure, completed in 1884 and modeled after the Vienna Opera House, is home to both the State Opera and the State Ballet.
Reviewed By ZakPetersen - London, United Kingdom
Wonderful building and interior with great acoustic and superb performance by every member of the orchestra, opera singers, and dancers, stunning costumes, and choreography, what a wonderful evening!
8. Danube Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 229 reviews
The Danube Palace was built between 1883 and 1885, in a splendid Neo-Baroque style according to the plans of Vilmos Freund. At that time it was known as the casino of Lipotvaros - but not in the term of gambling, but an aristocratic club for entertainment. From its built till the Second World War the Palace served as a place of culture, supported many young artists, and even Bartok, Kodaly, Dvorak played in its first-class concert hall. Since 1951 the building was carrying out the cultural programs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.Nowadays the beautiful halls and rooms of the Danube Palace are hosting cultural, social and gala events like weddings and Folklore performances.
Reviewed By Deb04101 - Portland, United States
This is a small theatre that regularly presents concerts of traditional Hungarian folk music and dance. I was concerned that it might turn out to be a schmaltzy tourist event, but both dancers and musicians were top-notch, and I could hardly sit still in my seat. The violinist in particular was excellent. If you'd like to see some of the roots of Hungary's contribution to world music, this high-energy performance will definitely entertain you.
9. Liszt Academy (Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 320 reviews
Founded in 1875, the Liszt Academy is the only institution bearing the name of Ferenc Liszt in which the great composer himself had an active role in establishing. The university, which has been functioning for more than 140 years, is the bastion of music teaching and musicology in Hungary. The Grand Hall boasting unparalleled acoustics is a legendary concert venue in the Art Nouveau conservatory (1907) on Liszt Ferenc Square. Since its reconstruction in 2013, the institution has handled independent professional concert organizing activities and earned itself a reputation globally both as a university and a concert centre. In 2016, the Liszt Academy won the European Heritage Label for its outstanding role on the European music scene, for its preservation of European traditions, its creativity and openness worthy of the spirit of Ferenc Liszt, and for its dynamism springing from the duality of university and concert centre activities.
Reviewed By PhilipM312 - Thief River Falls, United States
So much to enjoy in one open space. An art nouveau building with history and, as it turns out, great acoustics. We didn't have a tour but we walked around the public areas before and after attending a concert from a visiting orchestra. The organ was first played at the building's opening in the late 19th century by Franz Liszt himself. The acoustics were clear with just the right amount of reverb. Modern lighting makes the stage and performers look great. With a visiting orchestra from Belgium, our concert was very reasonably priced. A note about classical music in many European cities including Budapest, Prague, Vienna, and Venice, etc. There are plenty of nightly tourist performances with pieces you have heard - Pachelbel Canon, Dvorak New World Symphony, Vivaldi Four Seasons, etc. These performances are ok but generally overpriced. The performances that made these cities famous are found at the primary halls in the city. It pays to do your research and it pays to attend these performances to really experience what a classical concert is like. Before going search to see what's going on. There will be a long list of nightly performances - these are the tourist performances by freelance musicians for the most part. Like something? Go for it. No need to by in advance. But search on the cultural institutions of each city and then go directly to their sites to see if any performances are taking place while you're in town. The extra expense, if any, is well worth it.
10. Budapest Operetta Theatre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 578 reviews
This theater maintains the traditions of the great Viennese operettas since 1898.
Reviewed By sjlm
The operetta was Emmerich Kalman's The Gypsy Princess. We don't understand Hungarian but it didn't matter. There's the guy, the girl, the war, the parents who don't like her--not too hard to get the gist of it. There was a full orchestra, large cast, excellent singers. The theater is beautiful. It was sold out on a weekday evening in May. The audience was really into it--rhythmic clapping with uptempo numbers. No one left early; they stayed through several curtain calls, applauding with gusto. I got tickets online before leaving the US for the first row of a center box. The tickets were about $40! During the intermission, the usher beckoned us to the foyer behind our seats where they served us beautiful hors d'oeuvres and champagne. Thoroughly enjoyable and made us feel a little less like merely tourists. If yu want refreshments at the theater, you have to pay with forints.
