Surprise Concert

If it’s December 26, it’s Boxing Day, and, since 1983, it’s also the birthday of the Budapest Festival Orchestra. Traditionally, however, it’s our audiences who receive the gifts. The Surprise Concert promises a truly special experience, as one can never quite know what Iván Fischer, an artist of tireless imagination, will conjure from his rich musical repertoire. Over the years, concertgoers have voted on the program and even formed a choir. There have been chamber performances and solo appearances; the music has ranged from jazz and klezmer to folk traditions. Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and contemporary styles have all had their place, and, on some occasions, listeners have even been welcomed by entirely unexpected seating arrangements.Of course, this year’s program is still a surprise, but one thing is for sure: everyone who comes and opens the present given by the orchestra will enjoy an uplifting atmosphere and captivating musical experiences.