The concert promotes the vision of a tolerant, free, diverse and cheerful Budapest which includes artistic and academic freedom as well as assistance to disadvantaged groups. Proceeds from the evening will go towards funding the Dancing on the Square project and the Bridging Europe festival.
The Dancing on the Square project is much more than just a concert: it is not only about music and dancing together, but also about mutual responsibility, tolerance and respect. As part of the project, several hundred children, both from disadvantaged and more privileged backgrounds, Roma and non-Roma, join forces in a months-long joint creative project culminating in a performance with the Festival Orchestra on Heroes’ Square.
Bridging Europe is a festival that was started so that everyone could learn about each other’s culture and values, to understand and accept one another through the media of music, dance, literature and art. “The European family means that every person is equally important, everybody is equally valuable, that everyone has the same opportunities. Nationality, creed, colour or origin make no difference. We are all people, we are all members of one family,” proclaims Iván Fischer.
The May 8 benefit concert kicks off with Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture, and continues with Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 1 featuring – in the spirit of tolerance – invited Roma performers. The remainder of the evening’s programme will be a surprise. The event and the cause are supported by many artists, while special guests at the concert will include Eszter Csákányi, Pál Mácsai, Ferenc Snétberger and Béla Szakcsi-Lakatos.
