Hungary 2023

 Sunday evening saw the Creative Church, always a highlight of our visit to the Crescendo Summer Institute. The service opened with the performance of the last movement of the Mendelssohn String Octet, followed by selections from Beethoven and Brahms. Then Rt. Rev. Rob Gillion preached a riveting sermon. The service ended with a lovely Communion and Prayer Walk. It was moving event. (My pics were not so good. My neighbor took several excellent snaps, and here is a link to her post.) https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0fcsm5q2NDbed2wvqHwM8qhLWP5TjNPXHKhzEKUHjZhMJdTvNX6VAnEjUTgApFuHQl&id=1405475641

 This year is the 950th anniversary of the founding of Tokaj! They are celebrating.

Saturday’s faculty concert featured two chamber works. The first was a very moving work by an Iranian composer for flute, oboe, clarinet, string quartet, and string bass, conducted by Thomas Fortner. The second was Variations on a Theme by Beethoven written by Gregory Pascuzzi, who also conducted. This short concert was riveting.

 … in Tokaj.

 Ellen met Malin Hartelius while the plenary picture was being taken. Malin teaches voice at CSI, and she is accompanied by Melly.

 Daniella, who studied cello at SMU until last year, and she now works in Europe. Thank Heaven for pink hair!

The goulash was excellent!

 …from the dorm cafeteria—>

Our esteemed speakers so far— Beat Rink, founder and director of Crescendo  Krisztina Tarjanyi, Crescendo Hungary Rob Gillion, Anglican Bishop of the Arts, London

 Julian Poore, trumpet; Irena Riband, horn, husband Brian Capper, and Theomel, age 5; Karen Brubaker, flute, and husband.

Be amazed. Yulianna (age 9) and Svetlana Beziazychna play two short pieces. https://youtu.be/vuuVHDH9OG8

The marvelous soprano Tunde Szaboki sang a beautiful song by Schubert that celebrated Tokaj wine.

 

 The Crescendo Summer Institute, the main building and the opening ceremony.

 … we’re stork with this.

 … over the Tokaj Yacht Club on the Bodrog River. First morning in Tokaj, Hungary.

 …at last!

 Spectacular! Just a few feet from our hotel. Shot in the early morning light.

We went to meet a friend in the area of the Parliament, which is a spectacular building. A brass quintet was giving a concert on the steps. They were very good. Then there are snaps of the surrounding structures. Then we strolled over towards the river, with snaps of the other side of Budapest.

We came across this oddity near the Opera. Having grown up in Texas, I am pretty sure it’s impossible to avoid disappointment.

    Greetings. This is the new blog for our trip to Hungary and the 2023 Crescendo Summer Institute.     After two close connections and shlepping bags all around the Newark and Munich airports, we are in Budapest. Again! One of our favorite places. Our hotel is a lovely sight (first pic), the K+K Opera, so named because it is right next to the Budapest Opera House (second pic, west side).     I went for a short walk around the familiar neighborhood and saw this view (third pic) of Ste. Istvan’s Basilica down the street. What a sight!     Then we slept… and slept…