Being a Local in Budapest

Inner City Parish Church

We happen to be in Budapest during their spring Arts & Music festival.  We took advantage of that tonight by going to a choral concert featuring a program of all Franz Liszt music.  Liszt is one of Hungary's most famous composers.  Fortunately the concert is at the Inner City Parish Church which is a five minute walk from the hotel.

Inside the Inner City Parish Church

Liszt is not necessarily known for his choral music.  The program featured three choral pieces and one organ fantasia.  The finale was Via Crucis, which translates into Way of the Cross -- with the subtitle "The Fourteen Stations of the Cross."  This piece covered the crucifixion of Jesus from the time he was sentenced to death until he was removed from the Cross and laid to rest.  As you might imagine, there was a somberness to a lot of the music, but there were still glorious harmonies and fabulous acoustics in the church.  We're in Budapest during Holy Week -- Today is Palm Sunday -- so the text is very appropriate, although I would think you would more likely

hear it on Good Friday.  Interestingly, Liszt never heard this work performed.  He could not get it published as it was considered too modern for the day.  It wasn't published until 50 years after his death, shortly after the first performance.

Given the appearance and mannerisms of those in attendance, I am fairly certain that we were the only non-Budapestians in attendance.  Even though there was English translation in the program, the music was sung in Latin and German with Hungarian translation on a large monitor overhead.

Budapest sign at the Easter Market

Also taking place this week are the Easter Markets.  Set up in a square two blocks from the hotel, there are all types of handmade crafts and food stalls featuring a smorgasbord of Hungarian and regional delights including goulash and langos, which is a deep fried flat bread to which you can add various toppings.  We ate dinner here our first night, sitting with (mostly) locals and enjoying a quintessential meal of goulash and beer, while taking in the sights and sounds of a Saturday night in the city.