12

30 MARCH 5 APRIL 2012

THE BUDAPEST TIMES

T E N -D AY G U I D E

Lowly children uplifted by musics power

Age, origin dont matter when harmony is in the air
INES GRUBER
ucked away in a small,
picturesque
valley
north of Lake Balaton
lays the Music Talent
Centre, co-founded by
well-established Hungarian jazz musician Ferenc Sntberger. Here visitors
will find children from socially
deprived backgrounds and all age
groups, who are connected by their
talent for music.
The first lessons of the strict
timetable begin shortly after breakfast. The air is clear and fresh.
Standing
outside,
Sntberger
(pictured right, instructing a student)
tells The Budapest Times about the
concept and lengthy realisation of the
project, while children can be heard
laughing and chattering in the background.

German inspiration
He explains that the Music Talent
Centre was not a sudden idea or inspiration. He had been thinking over the
project for some time and was
familiar with something similar in
Berlin. In Neuklln (the eighth
borough of Berlin), Sinti and Roma
children are given the possibility to
develop their musical talent.
Sntbergers manager, Zoltn
Mszros, knew of the project in the
German capital and had the perfect
location in mind for such a centre in
Hungary. The valley, which was
formerly a pathfinders camp, recommended itself for several reasons. It is
far from the surrounding villages, so
the sounds of music day and night
and children romping about in their
free time would not disturb residents.
The location is stunning, with
plenty of fresh air and a stream. It is a
large area with accommodation,
teaching buildings and space for the
children to enjoy the surroundings.

Next came the planning phase and

writing many applications for
funding. I would never have
managed
it
alone,
stresses
Sntberger, adding that the same
applies to the teaching of the children. Several helping hands and a lot
of tenacity are needed to keep the
centre going, he says.
The school received the greatest
financial support from Norway, which
enabled the construction of the buildings. In addition it receives grants
from some Hungarian and foreign
foundations and the Hungarian state.

The school
Currently around 100 people are
working and living at the centre,
including 60 to 65 children.
Sntberger explains that this year 30
to 40 promising youngsters were
accepted. The interviews take place in
February across Hungary and each
year countless applications arrive, but
at present the school cannot teach
more than 65.
On average it takes him and his
colleagues three to four minutes to
see if a child has musical talent, he
says. The musical genre or instrument
is unimportant because everything is
taught from classical to jazz. It
depends solely on talent and naturally
also social background, Sntberger
emphasises.
Most of the pupils come from
Roma families who cannot afford to
send their children to a music school.
It is fantastic how quickly we became
known and the talents that apply to
study here, he enthuses, adding that
without the centre many children
would never have been able to put
their talent to the test.
Their days are well structured. The
intensive programme consists of a 12week course based on the school holidays: six weeks in summer, three in
autumn and three in spring. The
timetable includes music lessons as

Popular entertainment
wax museum in the future, by Space Theatre.
OF

ARTS

7PM (FESTIVAL THEATRE):

AT

Monarchy Dance of Nations, folk dance performance

by Honvd Dance Theatre.

NATIONAL DANCE THEATRE

Budapest Dance Theatre.

AT

Ferenc Sntberger (above, left) instructs a

student.

The ticket
Saturday, 31 March, 19.00
Palace of Arts, District IX, Komor Marcell utca
1, www.mupa.hu
Tickets: HUF 2,900-9,900. Proceeds go to the
Sntberger Music Talent Centre.

Sntberger Music Talent Centre

Tel.: (+36) 87 799-005
8227 Felsrs, Hvirg u. 28.
www.campeurope.hu

Concert Saturday
The programme of the first-year
group will end this month, closing
with a concert at the Palace of Arts
on Saturday 31 March at 7pm.
Sntberger is keen for as many of the
children as possible to perform on
stage, from beginners to advanced.
After a year of practising and
learning together with their teachers
including Sntberger, Attila Lszl,
Jnos Balzs junior and rpd

TRAF

TRAF AT 4PM AND 8PM: The Cloud, guided tour in the

PALACE

well as English, media, music theory

and choral singing. The teaching day
begins at 7am and ends in the late
afternoon but most of the pupils
continue to practise or make music
together. In addition there are several
sporting opportunities and joint
excursions are planned.
There are no conflicts, says the
virtuoso. Music connects, he says. It
bridges all age differences and questions of origin. Here we are only
one thing: musicians.
As well as music the centre seeks to
help the children in other ways. That
is why there is a range of subjects.
The idea is to make their lives a little
easier through us, says Sntberger,
who speaks with pride of the dedication and willingness of the pupils to
learn.

7PM: Soul Crumbs, by

AT 8PM: The Cloud, guided tour in the wax

museum in the future, by Space Theatre.

BUDAPEST JAZZ CLUB

Quartet.

A38

AT

AT

9PM: Eszter Vczi and the

9PM: Brandt Brauer Frick (Germany), Alba

Hyseni Project (Albania, Hungary), electronica, classical,

jazz.

Friday 6 April

BUDAPEST OPERETTA AND MUSICAL THEATRE AT

7PM: Romeo and Juliet, operetta theatre; at 7.30pm:

Classical entertainment

Ball at the Savoy, operetta.

STATE OPERA HOUSE AT 5PM: Wagners Parsifal.

A38

PALACE

AT

(rock).

8PM: Magidom, Fatal Error, Battery Band

BUDAPEST JAZZ CLUB AT 9PM: Zita Gereben Quintet.

A KVRIUM C LUB
(reggae, ska).

10 PM : PASO Soundsystem

AT

ARTS

AT

7PM (FESTIVAL THEATRE):

7.30PM (BARTK BLA NATIONAL CONCERT HALL):

Thursday 5 April
Classical entertainment
HUNGARIAN RADIO STUDIO

OF

Concerto Budapest and members of the Ferenc Liszt

Academy of Music perform Beethovens Coriolanus
Overture, String Quartet in A minor, Sonata in F minor
(Appassionata), Piano Concerto No. 4 and Symphony
No. 5 in C minor in the third of its Do you love Beethoven?
Passion and Redemption, Concerto Budapest Series; AT

AT

6PM: The Concerto

The Hungarian National Philharmonic conducted by

Matthias Bamert performs Prokofievs Romeo and Juliet
Suite and Schoenbergs transcription for orchestra of
Brahms Piano Quartet in G minor.

Armonico baroque chamber orchestra with Mrta

brahm (baroque violin) and Mikls Spnyi (dulcimer)
perform concertos by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and
Johann Sebastian Bach.

HUNGARIAN NATIONAL GALLERY AT 8PM: The

Szervnszky String Quartet performs excerpts from
Bachs The Art of the Fugue and string quartets by
Beethoven, Schumann and Debussy.

Popular entertainment

Popular entertainment

PALACE

BUDAPEST OPERETTA

OF

ARTS

AT

7PM (FESTIVAL THEATRE):

Carmina Burana, by Szeged Contemporary Ballet.

STATE OPERA HOUSE

Minkus and Petipa.

AT

7PM: Don Quixote, ballet by

NATIONAL DANCE THEATRE

AT

7PM: Liliomfi, by

ExperiDance Sndor Romn Company.

BUDAPEST OPERETTA AND MUSICAL THEATRE AT

7PM: Romeo and Juliet, operetta theatre; at 7.30pm:

Baroness Lili, operetta fantasy.

AND MUSICAL THEATRE AT 7PM:

Miss Saigon, musical; AT 7.30PM: Baroness Lili, operetta

fantasy.

TRAF

AT 8PM: The Cloud, guided tour in the wax

museum in the future, by Space Theatre.

BUDAPEST JAZZ CLUB AT 9PM: Bolla Quartet; at 11pm:

About Sntberger:
Tzumo, the most talented pupils will
demonstrate their development and
talent. Some of them may already be
known to the audience through
Sntberger New Generation last
November. An album will be made of
the evening.
For many it will be the last evening
together, says Sntberger, who admits
that saying goodbye is not only hard
for the children. Through such
intensive learning people grow
together.

Saturday 7 April
Classical entertainment
OLD MUSIC ACADEMY AT 11AM: Gza Hargitai (violin),
Marcell Vmos (cello) and Csilla Varga (piano) perform
Mozarts Sonata for violin and piano in B major K. 454,
Liszts Dreams of Love and Mendelssohns Trio in D
minor.
PALACE OF ARTS AT 6PM (FESTIVAL THEATRE,
AUDITORIUM): The Metropolitan Opera Live in High
Definition: The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
with Anna Netrebko, Piotr Beczala and Paulo Szot
perform Massenets Manon.

Popular entertainment
PALACE OF ARTS AT 11AM (GLASS HALL): The
Inhabitants of Brass Forest, an interactive musical play
for children by Brass in the Five.

Virtuoso Chamber Orchestra conducted by Mikls

Szenthelyi performs works by Buxtehude, Hndel, SaintSans, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart and others.

Popular entertainment
BUDA MAIN SQUARE (F TR) FROM 2PM: Spring Jazz
and Wine Festival; AT 2PM: Szili-Juhsz Duo; AT 4PM:
Benjo Brothers; AT 6PM: Orsolya Urbn Trio; AT 8PM: Hot
Jazz Band.
BUDAPEST OPERETTA AND MUSICAL
AND 7PM: Miss Saigon, musical.

THEATRE

AT

3PM

THALIA THEATRE AT 3PM: The Kissing Lady, musical play.

STATE OPERA HOUSE
Minkus and Petipa.

AT

7PM: Don Quixote, ballet by

BUDAVR CULTURAL CENTRE AT 7PM: Seb Klub (world

AKVRIUM CLUB AT 7PM: Kingston Cruisers, Chaotic,

Mighty Fishers, Jr, Nabu, Lipi Brown (reggae, ska).

music).

A38

AT 8PM: Zola Jesus (US, rock, electronica, industrial); AT 11PM: Plump Djs (UK), Ludmilla, Cheeky, Pryus,
Krueger (electronica).

OF ARTS AT 7PM: Moses and the Ten

Commandments, by the Hungarian Festival Ballet.

TRAF AT 8PM: Budbuds album release.

DOWN

THE ROAD

SATURDAY 21 APRIL (8PM): Cavalero, equestrian art show

TRAF AT 8PM: Holland Tsunami, theatrical mockumentary by Space Theatre.

at Papp Lszl Budapest Sportarna

BUDAPEST JAZZ CLUB

Budapest Sportarna

AT 9PM: Mizar 10 with Fanni

Srkzy (vocal, keyboards), Pter Schneider (guitar,
vocal), Lszl Mth (bass guitar) and Gbor Pusztai
(drums); AT 11PM: Istvn Gyrfs Trio.

Sunday 8 April

CLUB 202

PALACE OF ARTS AT 5PM (AUDITORIUM): The Met Encores

at MUPA: The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

9PM: Layne Staley, Alice in Chains, Alice

BUDAVR EVANGELICAL CHURCH AT 8PM: The Hungarian

PALACE

Lili, operetta fantasy.

Classical entertainment

AT

with Anna Netrebko, Piotr Beczala and Paulo Szot perform

Massenets Manon in High Definition retransmission.

BUDAPEST OPERETTA AND MUSICAL THEATRE AT 3PM

AND 7PM: Miss Saigon, musical; AT 7.30PM: Baroness

Pataj Gyrgy Trio.

in Change.

Ferenc Sntberger was born in 1957 in north

Hungary as the youngest son in a family of
musicians. He studied classical music and
jazz guitar, and today is particularly renowned
for his improvisatory skill and genre-crossing.
His repertoire extends from Hungarian Roma
traditions to Brazilian music, flamenco, jazz
and classical. Sntberger has released
numerous albums, written music for film and
theatre, and given concerts across the world.
He has performed with musicians including
David Friedman, Dhafer Youssef, James
Moody, Trilok Gurtu, Pandit Hariprasad
Chaurasia and Bobby McFerrin, and collaborated with Arild Andersen and Paolo Vinaccia.

SUNDAY 29 APRIL (7PM): Nightwish, at Papp Lszl

WEDNESDAY 2 MAY (8PM): Jan Garbarek and The Hilliard
Ensemble at Saint Stephens Basilica

SATURDAY 5 MAY (7PM): Andr Rieu and his Orchestra at

Papp Lszl Budapest Sportarna

THURSDAY 17 MAY (8PM), FRIDAY 18 (8PM), SATURDAY

19 (4PM AND 8PM) AND SUNDAY 20 (5PM): Alegra by
Cirque du Soleil at Papp Lszl Budapest Sportarna