DIPLOMACY

NEW AMBASSADORS

Abdulkhalig Rashed Abdulkhalig bin Rafaa (the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) had a BA in Political Science at King Abdulaziz University, a Master's degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in the United States and a Higher Diploma in Diplomatic Studies at the Institute of Diplomatic Studies in Riyadh.

Igor Cesar (Rwanda), residing in Berlin, was born in East Germany and moved back to Africa with his parents in 1971. Later, he lived in Germany and Canada and earned a Masters degree at the University of Alberta. In 2005, he founded a center for widows in Kimironko, Rwanda.

Kang Il Choe (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), residing in Vienna, is also the main representative of his country in Austria and Slovenia. Previously, he worked in his country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Zenebe Kebede Korcho (Ethiopia), residing in Vienna, is also Ambassador to Austria, Switzerland and Romania as well as Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and International Organizations in Geneva.

Juan Francisci Facetti,(Paraguay), residing in Vienna, is also Ambassador to Austria as well as Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and International Organizations with headquarters in the Austrian capital.

Five new ambassadors accredited to Hungary presented their credentials to Hungarian President János Áder at the Sándor Palace in the Buda Castle this February (pictured from left to right): Juan Francisci Facetti from Paraguay; Zenebe Kebede Korcho from Ethiopia; Kang Il Choe from Democratic People's Republic of Korea; Abdulkhalig Rashed Abdulkhalig bin Rafaa from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Igor Cesar from Rwanda.

BARTÓK SPRING

FROM APRIL 2, STREAM PERFORMANCE In the spring of 2021, on the 140th anniversary of the birth of the 20th century Hungarian composer Béla Bartók, the Palace of Arts (MÜPA) in Budapest will be launching a unique series of events embracing total art. The Bartók Spring International Art Weeks being organized by MÜPA Budapest between April 2 and 18 is getting ready to welcome culture lovers online with international stars, world premières and concerts broadcast from Europe's renowned concert halls. The festival program offers a glimpse into Bartók's amazing oeuvre, but is not restricted to only music written by the world famous composer. It is much more Bartók's spirit, creativity and artistic outlook that we wish to depict across countless genres ranging from contemporary classical music to world music, jazz, dance, the fine arts and popular music, through works by the very finest artists in Hungary and abroad. Taking the stage will be such luminaries as Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, György Kurtág, the Kelemen Quartet, René Jacobs and the Kammerorchester Basel, Makám, the Bagossy Brothers Company, Henrik Nánási, the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra, the Szeged Contemporary Dance Company, Charlie, Ballet Pécs, Riccardo Chailly and the Filarmonica della Scala, the Hungarian National Dance Ensemble, György Vashegyi, the Orfeo Orchestra and the Purcell Choir, Félix Lajkó and the Ballet Company of Győr.

bartoktavasz.hu OUTDOOR POSTER INSTALLATION

UNTIL JUNE 30, CASTLE GARDEN BAZAAR, BUDAPEST A special outdoor installation can be seen on the terrace of the Castle Garden Bazaar In the first decades of the 20th century, a mysterious, colorful and scandalous nightlife took place in the nightclubs and private homes of downtown Budapest. The exciting atmosphere, characters and locations of this period are evoked by the works of one of the most famous Hungarian poster designers, Géza Faragó. The outdoor installation, which presents 25 works, includes the poster of the Budapest Orpheum, the Holzer Budapest Fashion House, the Törley Sparkling Wine Factory and the Budapest Operetta Theater's Hall America Revue. As the organizers point out “the poster tells the art of the street with its sincerity and artistic sophistication about the conditions of its own age.” Along this idea, the organizers selected the works of poster artist Géza Faragó, which color the southern panoramic terrace of the Castle Garden Bazaar from March. The works come from the rarities of the special collection of the Map, Poster and Small Print Library with the help of the National Széchenyi Library. "The typical works of the era, the artistic posters on the billboards provide an insight into one of the most exciting periods of our past as a special history book. visit us and see the diverse works of poster designer Géza Faragó," according to Krisztina Sikota, Deputy CEO of Tourism and Culture at the state-owned asset management firm Várkapitányság Nonprofit Plc. Géza Faragó studied in Paris with the famous poster designer and craftsman Alfons Mucha. After returning to Budapest, which was already a cosmopolitan city, his theatrical and commercial posters, press drawings and caricatures appeared in 1903, and they were also on display in the exhibitions of the Art Gallery, the National Salon and the Ernst Museum. The artist was a well-known figure in the nightlife and café life in Pest.

varkertbazar.hu

JAMIE CULLUM

JULY 14, HISTÓRIA GARDEN, VESZPRÉM Jamie Cullum, considered to be the United Kingdom’s best jazz artist of all time, visited Veszprém back in 2016 when he performed an unforgettable concert at the Veszprém Aréna, the musician’s first ever show in Hungary. The forty-year-old artist, who offers a unique combination of jazz, pop and rock, has performed at prestigious locations such as the Hollywood Bowl and the Carnegie Hall, at Fuji Rock and Glastonbury, and he has also shared the stage with names like Amy Winehouse and Billy Joel. He is not only successful as a performer, but as a composer too: he has composed for films of John Cusack and Clint Eastwood. Cullum has released eight studio albums, of which more than 10 million copies have been sold. His last studio album ‘Taller’ was released in 2019, and in 2020, he surprised his fans with his first ever Christmas album ‘The Pianoman at Christmas’. Besides his stage career, he works as a radio host: he currently has a prime-time, award-winning weekly show on BBC Radio 2, Europe’s most popular radio station, where – as the DJ – he introduced jazz stars such as Gregory Porter or Laura Mvula to his audience.

veszpremfest.hu

DAGNY

JANUARY 27, 2022. AKVÁRIUM KLUB, BUDAPEST With each new song and show, Dagny consistently stuns and surprises. Although Dagny Norvoll Sandvik grew up in a musically gifted family in Tromsø, Norway, she truly found her passion for songwriting and music when she moved to London in her early 20’s. The road to international attention was quite short as her debut single, 2015’s Backbeat rose the charts in multiple territories, resulting in over 40 million cumulative streams. Since then she has grown to become one of Norway’s most exciting artists, live performers and songwriters – over 450 million streams amassed, sold out tours, and critical acclaim by everyone from Nylon and Billboard to The Guardian and Harpers Bazaar, within the span of just a few short years. Following up Backbeat with songs like Fool’s Gold, Drink About, Wearing Nothing and Love You Like That Dagny proved she was far from a one hit wonder. In parallel with these hit releases, she’s establishing herself as one of Norway’s best and most popular live artists. From festival spots to sold-out headline shows both locally and internationally. She confesses that “now – more than ever – am I able to be personal in my music. I want to tell stories that mean something to me, but that others also can relate to. The goal is to pack one specific emotion into a single sentence.”