Budapest Spring Festival
The Budapest Spring Festival celebrates its 34th anniversary this year. It is the largest cultural festival in the city, and counts among the most prestigious in this part of Europe. Held from 21st March to 6th April 2014, the festival invites visitors to enjoy excellent programmes, and show, by acclaimed Hungarian and international performers. Among the stellar performers of the festival, we'd like to count the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hungarian Radio Symphonic Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and many individual performers, like Leila Josefowicz, Piotr Sałajczyk, Alison Balsom, Patricia Kopatchinskaja and Andreas Scholl, to mention just a few. The festival counts concerts, dance, folk music, and theater performances on its schedule, and employs over 50 venues, including the Palace of Arts - Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, the new Budapest Music Center, Centrál Theatre, Radnóti Theatre, the St. Francis Parish Church, the Palace of Arts - Festival Theatre, and many others. Among the programmes for young audiences, the most interesting are offered on the World Puppetry Day, with many free performances at several spots in the city. For lovers of art, there are several exhibitions during the Budapest Spring Festival:
- SPRING – Contemporary Arts Exhibition Venue: Balassi Institute, Budapest Somlói út 51. district I., Tel: (+36 1) 381-5124 Date: 16th March - 30th April
- Muses on Theatre Square The Pest German Theatre (1812-1849) was founded 200 years ago Venue: Budapest History Museum, Buda Castle, Szent György tér 2., building "E" Tel: (+36 1) 487-8800
- 30th Hungarian Exhibition of Press Photography Venue: Hungarian National Museum, Múzeum krt. 14-16., district VIII., Tel: (+36 1) 327-7773 Date: 24th March - 6th May
- Art Deco and Modernism, Interior design in Hungary 1920–1940 Venue: Museum of Applied Arts, Üllői út 33-37. district IX:, Tel: (+36 1) 456-5107 Date: 16th March - 30th September
There are two Mamaison hotels in Budapest, which offer excellent conditions for travellers visiting Budapest during the festival: Mamaison Hotel Andrassy and Mamaison Residence Izabella.