Amerikai Magyar Szó, 1978. július-december (32. évfolyam, 27-50. szám)

1978-08-03 / 29. szám

The millions who take their vacations in Hungary every vear mainly enjoy the country for its re­sorts, its good living and the endless choice of in­expensive and superbly produced cultural events- opera, concerts, ballet, theater and art exhibits. Yet, except for new apartment houses, some new facto­ries and hotels, the social structure of the country is not usually apparent to the tourist, unless he asks or looks for it. Even the postcards for sale at all ho­tels show only the great historical buildings, pea­sants in costume, bridges and panoramic views of Budapest or other cities. But the government and people of Hungary have transformed the entire na­tion, its educational level, its health care, living ac­comodations, and the rights of women and minori­ties. As a frequent traveler to Hungary, I continually look for what is new and different there. As one of many examples I take something which did not and could not have existed before the liberation of the country in 1945, a cultural center. It is one of many throughout Hungary, but this one, the Pataki Cen­ter, is one of the newest, having been built only two years ago. A young Hungarian friend tool me there and prudently chose a pantomime show that did not require a knowledge of the language. Since we ar­rived more than an hour before the performance, we were able to explore the entire complex and to ask many questions. The Center is located in Kőbá­nya, a large working class district in Budapest where there are more than 40 large factories. It is named after István Pataki, a member of the underground resistance during World War II. He was captured and executed by the Hungarian Nazis in December, 1944 at the age of 30. We wandered through buildings which have a to­tal area of 50.000 suqare feet and 110 rooms. Its facilities include a library of 100.000 books and a theater for film and stage presentations. I neeked into some of the rooms where meetings were going on of amateur societies devoted to literature, music studies and fine arts. Book lovers and amateur dra­ma groups present Hungarian and world classics. Music groups attend or give concerts. In the lobby was a large exhibit of wood sculpture and carvings dating back a thousand years. Exhibitions are ar­ranged of the work of leading Hungarian artists or of art from other countries. In the past two years there have been shown nercelain from Leningrad, works of art from Canada, Cuba, the German De­mocratic Republic, Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia. Slide shows are held almost continuously on folk­lore, time-honored traditions and cultural treasures of European, Asian and African countries. Young people and adults are side by side everywhere in the special interest societies or in courses on photogra­phy, painting, sewing, modeling, chess, sculpturing, puppet making, and cooking. Language courses are arranged for students of English, Russian, German, French, Italian and Spanish. Various entertainment programs are held for young mothers old age pen­sioners, and industrial workers. By accident, I wan­dered into a room taken up entirelv by old men, bent over loose-leaf books and intently looking at one another’s pages. I realized that these were stamp collectors, and, being one myseli, was sagerly welcomed into the room. All the clubs, societies and courses are provided with modem equipment and instruction is given by a staff of nearly 100 teachers, social workers and specialists. Industrial firms and offices frequently arrange special celebrations on the premises and author-rea­der meetings are often held in the library. Nearly one million people have visited the Pataki Culture Center since it opened.lt has welcomed within its walls a total of 90 delegations from various count­ries, socialist, capitalist and developing nations, who came to study the activities organized by the center. The specific pantomime show I had come to see included several short, witty and most understand­able skits. One of them was a beautv, involving no words, only sounds and where an impeccably dres­sed conductor led, with exact motions of hands and baton, a great crescendo of military explosions of machine-gun fire, cannon, bombs, and other noises of warfare. The major work was a beautiful ballet based on Hemingway’s “Old Man and the Sea”. I was at least twice the age of the oldest person in the audience and they looked at me curiously. And I looked at them curiously, too, because this au­dience was proof of Hungary’s successful efforts to advance the knowledge and culture of ordinary working people and to familiarize them with works of art, literature and music over the centuries. Dr. Alfred Henley U.S. MOVIE FILMED IN BUDAPEST A new U.S. movie, The Ninth Configuration , is being filmed in Budapest. The producer, director and writer is William Peter Blatty of “The Exorcist” fame. One of the stars is Jason Miller, actor /“The Exqrcist”, among other films/ and playwright /“That Championship Season”/. He recently repor­ted by telephone on what was going on over there. “Budapest has the most beautiful neon signs I’ve ever seen”, said Mr. Miller. “I go out at night just to photograph them. They must use only about half as much electricity as we do because they’ve got a kind of soft glow that’s reflected in the Da­nube. And the colors are different, lavender, dark orange, pale green. “Stacy Keach and Joe Spinell, who are also in the movie, and I went fishing in the Danube last Sunday and caught a couple of perch. We were right in front of the parliament building. We ate bread and cheese and drank white wine while we fished. At 6.30 a.m. we go over to the Mafilm Stu­dio on the Pest side. The movie, or at least this part of it, is being made entirely in the studio. The Hungarian technicians are marvelous and their film processing is the best in the world.” What’s the picture about, Mr. Miller was asked. “Blatty adapted it from a novel of his”, he replied. “It’s about a group of GI’s in Vietnam who have refused to fight. They’re acting like they’re insane. The Army is trying to find out whether it’s real madness or feigned madness ...Hamlet’s madness in other words. I play a lieutenant who’s trying to teach Shakespeare to dogs. Keach and Ed Flanders, play the doctors who are trying to treat us.” GABRIEL VON WAYDITCH - COMPOSER Von Wayditch and his son “April 5, 6, and 8th, 1979, Peter Erős conductor San Diego Symphonic Chorale, von Wayditch ope­ra: ‘Jesus before Herod’. "Attend the dazzling US premiere of this moving modern opera by the recently discovered Hungari­an -American composer, who died penniless in 1968. Born in Budapest, he emigrated to the United States. In New York he worked as a musician and theater group conductor while composing a total of 14 grand operas. Recently the Hungarian govern­ment launched a program to record his works.” The above is a quotation from the 1978-79 sea­son’s brochure of the San Diego Symphony Or­chestra whose musical director and conductor is Peter Erős. The Budapest National Opera Co. and Orchestra has already recorded /Qualiton Records/Wayditch’s “The Caliph’s Magician”. The Series will have in its 1978-79 season famous artists, among them the piano virtuoso, Zoltán Kocsis, from Budapest, who will perform on Nov, 16, 17, 19, Claudio Arrau, pianist on Feb. 8, 9 and 11, 1979, Anna Moffo, famous soprano, Andre Watts, pianist and Ruggiero Ricci, violinist. Those who are interested in attending the series, or some of the concerts, can write directly to The San Diego Symphony Orchestra, Ass’n, P.O.Box 3175. San Diego, Cal. 92103 for further details. ATTENTION TO ALL THOSE VISITING HUNGARY! All those who cannot afford the price of hotel accomodations, we are pleased to advise that very fine accomodations can be secured in private homes by contacting: TRAVEL BUREAU of the HUNGARIAN WORLD FEDERATION Benczúr u. 15. Budapest. Director: Zoltán Kozari A UNIQUE CULTURE CENTER WAYDITCH OPERA IN BUDAPEST premierein sandiego 10----------------------- -----------------AMERIKAI MAGYAR SZO_______________l97S-

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