Like the lives of most cultural groups, the everyday life of the Hungarian State People's Association was also changed by the epidemic. Band leader Gábor Mihályi and cultural manager Anna Tucsni still consider the past period to be successful, since this year the band also celebrated its 70th birthday. velvidek.ma interviewed them.
"According to our plans, we wanted to present a worthy picture of a seventy-year-old band with an extensive repertoire." said Gábor Mihály. "The focus was on the present, which also reflected on the past. In order to achieve this, we presented the audience with a varied, multi-layered program. It is with some pride that I can mention the Dance-Celebration staged at the Szeged Outdoor Games, whose dance and musical fabric represented our seven decades well, but also looked towards the future. Miklós Rábai's choreographies appeared on the stage in the same way as my "dance writings". I can only speak with superlatives about the musical line, the Szolnok Symphony, the Szent Efrem Male Choir, György Ferenczi and the 1st Pesti Rackás, as well as Félix Lajkó. After two decades, we returned to the city on the banks of the Tisza, we were able to play in front of a packed house, the audience stood up and celebrated us. In light of its success, we rightly gave the show the subtitle: "Parade under the stars".
The other memorable anniversary:
We were able to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the presentation of Nalegenda. This performance - along with Ecseri's wedding - lasted two decades and was the longest in the repertoire. The famous anniversary was held at the Tokaj Festival with the addition that some parts of it were also accompanied by live music.
The coronavirus almost prevented the presentation of one of the most beloved programs of our time, Idesereglik ai tovagünt - Ode to the Singing Bird, a play based on the work of Áron Tamási. It was put on stage after three runs, and based on the feedback so far, I was convinced that it was very right to take an untrodden path, because let's not forget that the play required a text that required acting skills, which the actors fulfilled in a professional manner. The extremely topical dance theater performance preserved all the values that Áron Tamási suggests - let it be about tradition, love, and above all else, the affirmation of life - and complemented our XXI. with our 20th century worldview."
Anna Turcsi: "The Szeged Outdoor Games was a memorable task for us, as it was a presentation and a guest game from the countryside at the same time. Looking back at the competition, I can say that the management and organizing team passed the exam excellently. Of course, the Szeged festival organizers also provided effective help, so the audience could be part of a memorable presentation. The premiere was also broadcast by the public media.
Leaving our little house, I fondly remember the Transylvanian tour, with which we were able to make up for the missed performances of the previous year. We made our debut in the Gábor Áron Cultural Center in Szentegyháza, the next day we performed at the National Theater in Marosvásárhely, and the tour ended on September 11 in the Sports Hall in Székelyudvarhely, with a full house."
Gábor Mihály : "The young, creative and dynamic management team of the Hungarian State People's Association can look back on two years. I am convinced that its members hold their own not only in Hungarian but also in international comparisons, and they effectively support our artistic work.
In our plans, we considered 2021 as the holiday season, but due to delays due to the coronavirus, we extended the anniversary year until May 20, 2022.
Source and full article: Felvidek.ma
Featured image: State People's Association/Péter Jekken
