Encounters in the City of Music

‘Encounters in the City of Music’ is a series of concerts launched in 2022, spanning ages, cultures and genres. The unique series of musical encounters is a celebration promoted by Veszprém, Hungary’s first city to be awarded the title of City of Music in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Each concert is a cooperative act of Hungarian and foreign musicians, demonstrating the interoperability of musical languages.

In the year of the European Capital of Culture 2023, Veszprém will highlight, among others, a crossing of musical boundaries. One such event is a concert by Mónika Lakatos and Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra featuring symphonic transcriptions of Vlach Gypsy music. Maguare from Colombia and Los Orangutanes from Hungary will perform Cumbia, a popular dance music. The tradition of Kaustinen fiddle playing will be brought to Veszprém by the Finnish Tero Hyvälouma, as a guest of the Erdőfű band. The sacred traditional Moroccan Gnawa music will be performed by Jola and the Hungarian jazz and world music group Tariqa.

The productions, rooted in folk and classical traditions but crossing genre boundaries, are also introductory immersion events.

In this shared play, performers and audiences alike will encounter new musical experiences.

The concerts will be followed up with discussions that will deepen the experience and highlight how musical languages are interconnected.

Implemented by: Public Foundation for the Culture of the Veszprém-Balaton Region

Date: Ongoing during 2023

Location: Veszprém

Partner: Hangvető Zenei Terjesztő Társulás Kft.