February 2, 2009

Extremely Hungary 2009 Officially Opens in New York

Extremely Hungary 2009, a year-long festival of Hungarian culture, organized by the Hungarian Cultural Center (HCC) in New York, and assisted by the Embassy of Hungary in Washington, DC, opened on Friday, January 23, in the Forbes Galleries and on Saturday, January 24 in New York at Carnegie Hall.

Christopher Forbes, Vice Chairman of the Forbes Publishing and Media Company welcomed guests to the grand opening of the exhibitions of the László Gyugyi Zsolnay Porcelain Collection and the Nancy Goodman Brinker Hungarian Fine Art Collection on Friday, January 23, in the Forbes Galleries.

Hungarian Minister of Education and Culture István Hiller announced the launch of Extremely Hungary 2009, underlining the fact that this cultural festival is the greatest Hungarian cultural undertaking abroad ever. He also presented the 'Maecenas of Hungarian Culture' award to Ambassador Nancy Brinker for years of service to promote Hungarian culture.

Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi talked about the strong US-Hungarian diplomatic, cultural and political relations, and the symbolic significance of the collections of a Hungarian Engineer living in Pittsburgh, PA and an American Ambassador who lived and worked in Budapest, Hungary.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Budapest Nancy Brinker thanked Minister Hiller for the 'Maecenas of Hungarian Culture' award, and briefly presented the significance of 20th Century Hungarian Fine Art in the history of universal art.

Dr. László Gyugyi, owner of the world's largest Zsolnay collection, touched upon the history and the unique technology of the Zsolnay porcelain, and promised to donate the majority of his private collection to the city of Pécs, European Capital of Culture in 2010.

 

One of the unique pieces of the Zsolnay collection exhibition at the Forbes Galleries

Maestro Iván Fischer, Principal Conductor of the Washington National Symphony Orchestra, lead the Budapest Festival Orchestra on the Ronald O. Perelman Stage of the 2800-seat Isaac Stern Auditorium of the Carnegie Hall on Saturday, January 24.

They were joined by József Lendvai, Sr. (Violin), József Lendvay, Jr. (Violin) and Oszkár Ökrös (Cymbal), and performed the following program:

1. Traditional: Gypsy Folk Music

2. Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 3 in D Major

3. Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 15 in B-flat Major

4. Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 1 in G Minor

5. Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20 (Gypsy Melodies)

6. Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 11 in D Minor

7. Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor

The concert, which drew a standing ovation from the New York audience, was followed by a VIP-reception in the Rohatyn/Sorin Halls of Carnegie Hall.

Director of Hungarian Cultural Center László Jakab Orsós welcomed guests to the reception and officially launched Extremely Hungary 2009.

Director of Carnegie Hall Clive Gillinson praised Hungarian classical and Gypsy music, and declared that not every nation has music in their blood, but the Hungarian people do.

Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi emphasized the New York-Washington dual basis of the Hungarian cultural festival by pointing out that Maestro Iván Fischer is currently Principal Conductor of the Washington National Symphony Orchestra.

Festival Co-Chair George Soros talked about the importance of supporting minority cultures during the festival, like promoting Gypsy music in Hungary and the United States.

Festival Co-Chair Kati Marton received the 'Global Ambassador of Hungarian Culture' award from Minister István Hiller (right) for her lifelong work on promoting Hungarian culture.

Ms. Marton is married to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, who was also present at the event.

Director Gábor Tompa, who currently teaches in San Diego, CA, received the 'Global Ambassador of Hungarian Culture' award from Minister István Hiller (right) for his lifelong work on directing and promoting Hungarian theatre in Kolozsvár/Cluj-Napoca, Romania.