News On Music

Nothing of the kind, for a first visit, to borrow one of the yellow trams that criss-cross Budapest. Or better: walk to discover the city, listen to his babbling, feel his heartbeat. The music lover will begin by back the beautiful Andrassy, local, to arrive at the Opéra national Champs-Élysées avenue, Italian Renaissance style building, inaugurated in 1884. It is between by a box portico of two iconic statues of Hungarian music: right, Franz Liszt; on the left, Ferenc Erkel. The name said it nothing? It is yet here revered. He is the author of the national anthem, but especially the Hungary the most popular opera composer: his fiery, powerful music in the Italian style, made somehow the Hungarian Verdi. His major work, Bank Bán, was chosen for the inauguration of the Opera and is renewed each year with the same enthusiasm as Hunyadi Lazlo, an epic high color seen by Hungarians as their Nabucco.

Should absolutely see a show at the national Opera: first because the theater is a jewel, but also because the troupe is an excellent level. We meet then in face, the documentaries coffee, coffee artists, founded in 1898, and that has not changed: low-key décor, yellow walls, old photos. Around a glass of amber tokay, it commented on the show. The tradition of coffee is very rooted in Budapest. What the Turks who opened the first drinking places during their occupation of the Hungary in the 17th century. But the golden age of Hungarian coffee date from the 1890s: conditions deplorable housing preventing to invite friends home, coffee houses became places of encounters and favorite exchange of the inhabitants of Budapest. One of the most famous of the city is the New York Café, said that it is the best coffee in the world. Opened in 1884, transformed and debaptise during the Communist period, now restored in the splendour of his amazing baroque tempered Art nouveau décor, he was, in the early 20th century, the sanctuary of the writers of the new Hungarian literature. The other passage in Budapest is Café Gerbeaud, Vörösmarty square: this is on enjoying the best pastries, accompanied by a famous hot chocolate…

Returning on Andrássy avenue in the direction of the place of the hero, it is a yellow building in the heart of the inhabitants of Budapest: this is on the first floor, experienced the hero of Hungarian classical music, Franz Liszt. The apartment where he was regularly between his ceaseless travel across Europe is full of treasures that are traces human, intimate life of Liszt. In particular, his working cabinet where he liked to compose on a surprising “Office-piano” that he had been making ad hoc. Inside of this Office, in front, is inserted a sliding keyboard that allowed him to try an idea immediately before discharging it on the paper. His bed also is retained, where you explained modestly, he rested… In fact, his father had seen the future of the young Franz when, at the time of death, he told his son, at the age of 16 years: “I fear for you the women: they upset your life, and the domineront.»”. Women, it is true, have relied heavily in the life of Liszt. They dominated his life? Perhaps not. Troubled? Certainly. As if her long affair with Marie of D’agoult, who gave him three children, has contributed to its stability, it is also left to take in the vortex of a few other less relaxing – famous dancer Lola Montes to the great tragic actress Charlotte von Hagen, who wrote poems that it was as soon as music and that he had to leave a singular remember car, several years after, it will to write: “You have spoiled me all other men;” “none can compare: you are the one.”