Two anniversaries will be in the focus at the festival: the 200th anniversary of the death of the great Austrian composer Josef Haydn, who spent many of his best years as the court musician for the noble Hungarian Esterházy family, and the 1000th anniversary of the founding of the diocese of Pécs. Lúcia Megyesi Scwartz and Jenő Jandó, both born in Pécs, will celebrate Hadyn's music with a concert on March 18. The Festival-Ensemble Salzburg will perform on March 28.
As part of the celebration of the diocese's anniversary, the London Baroque Orchestra will perform with special soloist soprano Julia Gooding on March 23. The Corvina Consort will perform on April 3 and the Boys' Choir of Graz and Capella Calliope will sing on April 7.
On March 25, Jewish cantors from Israel and Budapest, as well as the Budapest Klezmer Band, will perform.
Jazz will be in the spotlight on March 20-21. Performers will include the virtuoso accordionist Richard Galliano, the world-famous violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, The Jazz Pistols and the Armenian-Hungarian jazz trio of David Yangibarjan. Another jazz event will take place in early April, when the Borbély Workshop plays a programme entitled Hommáge á Kodály.
Habib Koité
For lovers of world music, Habib Koité and his band Bamada will present a mixture of ancient Western African instruments and western harmonies in a unique performance on March 19. The guitarist Alegre Correa, who started his career in Brazil but has lived in Vienna for nearly two decades, will be joined on stage by percussionist Kornél Horváth on March 30.
Special dance performances will add extra colour to the festival. The Don Cossacks Art Ensemble will present a show featuring spectacular choreographies based on the folklore of the Don area on March 23. Contemporary dance will be presented by the Pál Frenák Company, at a show entitled InTime on March 18. The Pécs Ballet will present some exciting improvisation in a show called Chance Operation on March 26. To conclude the series of dance events, the British Trey McIntyre Project will present a contemporary ballet programme at the Pécs National Theatre on March 30.
