Hungarian Heritage Review, 1987 (16. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1987-02-01 / 2. szám
iNeítis ^íuggets THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF THE HUNGARIAN STATE FOLK ENSEMBLE NEW YORK, N.Y. — Under the management of Columbia Artists Management, Inc., the prestigious, international talent agency that has arranged for and managed the nationwide tours of many performing artists from Hungary, the world renowned and incomparable Hungarian State Folk Ensemble, a company of 100 dancers, chorus, and orchestra under the artistic direction of Sándor Timar, has returned, by popular demand, for another whirlwind tour of the United States and Canada. Having already scored “smash hits” in more than fifteen cities since their arrival in January, as of February 18th they are scheduled to appear in 35 more here and in Canada. The last time the Ensemble toured North America was three years ago and, what the Chicago Tribune trumpeted about them, echoed what almost all of the major dailies around the country said: “Rarely do so many virtuosos share a stage, offering a startling lesson in what great folk art is all about.” The 1984 tour of the “New” HUNGARIAN STATE FOLK ENSEMBLE was a success rarely, if ever, matched by such a Company. From New York to Los Angeles and back, virtually every major U.S. and Canadian city was included, all with stunning success, demonstrated by thunderous applause, shouts of joy and highest critical acclaim for new Artistic Director Sándor Timar’s brilliant company, preserving true Hungarian folk elements presented with theatricality and spectacle. These 100 performers are the best in the world of their kind: whirling dancers, a superb chorus and a virtuoso, “show-stopping”, orchestra, complete with gypsy violins, Hungarian cembaloms and other typically ethnic instruments. America is the 23rd country to be added to its unbroken chain of sensational successes! Twenty years ago, in 1966, the previous Hungarian State Folk Ensemble, with Miklós Rabai as Artistic Director, also toured the United States and Canada under Columbia Artists, including a four-week engagement at New York City’s Center of the Performing Arts. Since the death of Maestro Rabai the Ensemble has been completely reorganized under the Artistic Direction of Sándor Timar, a world-renowned exponent of Hungarian folk art, and one of the most highly respected men in his field. The Ensemble embarked on tour in January 1984 and by the end of its twelveweek tour, it had performed to great critical acclaim in virtually every major U.S. and Canadian city. Based in Budapest the Ensemble of 100 dancers, chorus and orchestra, all handpicked from the best in Hungary has been chosen above all other Hungarian folk companies by its government to be its official representative abroad. The extraordinary folk music that inspired Bela Bartók, Zoltán Kodály and Franz Liszt is the foundation for the Ensemble’s panorama of breathtaking dancing, sumptuous costumes, magnificent choral singing and intoxicating Hungarian folk and Gypsy melodies. Many relate Hungarian folk music to that of the Hungarian Gypsy, and most of this type music was written in the last century and made famous by the many Gypsy orchestras. Yet, Hungarians in isolated villages have also introduced their own exciting and rich folk —continued next page FEBRUARY 1987 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW 7
