The 18th-century Carmelite monastery and church are located on the south-eastern side of the castle hill, stretching between the Budavari Palace and the city. The Danube River below, with an unparalleled view. The Carmelita is not only one of the famous buildings in the Buda Castle area, but also a cultural place dating back hundreds of years: for example, the first stone theater in Buda was opened here in October 1787. Its interior design rivaled the most beautiful theaters of the monarchy, and can Its huge hall can accommodate 1,200 people. The equipment is state-of-the-art, and the room acoustics are excellent, while the sets and costumes designed by Kimblyn Farkas were plentiful. In 1790, it was the scene of the first Hungarian-language performance, where famous artists such as Lujza Blaha or Róza Déryné Széppataki performed here, but Haydn’s masterpiece “Creation” was rehearsed here, and on May 7, 1800, the public of that time could listen to Beethoven’s concert . The spirit of this place, looking back on its rich past, almost demands that art find a place within the walls.
The Carmelite building complex has been renovated under the National Haussmann Programme, and as a result the noble tradition of classical music concerts can continue. On the most famous days of Hungarian culture, you can listen to concerts performed by the best Hungarian musicians. The traditions of the rich artistic past will be evoked again this year with a series of concerts taking place in the Beethoven Hall.
Carmelite Concert Programs
It will be held on September 24 Palaz Szabo His performance is titled Nítóhangversény, which also symbolizes the Visegrad collaboration: it combines works by Czech, Polish, Slovak and Hungarian composers. The magnificent Carmelita organ delivered last year will be used to play the score showcasing the full range of the instrument’s capabilities. As an organist, Balázs Szabó gives concerts throughout Europe. In the first half of the season, on October 1, World Music Day, the musicians of the Budapest Philharmonic Society Orchestra, which turns 170 years old this year, will come to Carmelita with a special Dohnányi programme. On October 22, Valentin Magyar, one of the best representatives of the younger generation of pianists, winner of the Junior Prima Prize, will present a solo evening composed of works by Ferenc Liszt on the occasion of the composer’s birthday. On November 11, in the concert organized jointly with the Heidnium Autumn Festival, the Orfeo Orchestra will perform Haydn’s comic opera: Aki utlen, poreul jär. The work was presented in Eszterháza exactly 250 years ago. The Advent season concludes on December 16 with a concert by the Szent István Philharmonic with two beautiful, captivating religious pieces, Joseph Haydn’s St. Nicholas Requiem and Vivaldi’s Gloria.
Cover image: Karmelita Concerts recording (Photo: Várkapitányság)
