Documentary 2025.05.10.
XII. Open House - Festive Day of Arts

The Pesti Vigadó Nonprofit Ltd. organized the first Open House event in 2015 to mark the 150th anniversary of the building's opening. Since then, this event has grown into a true multidisciplinary program, offering something for everyone to enjoy in terms of cultural experiences.

This year's Open House event will welcome visitors all day with a 1920s Swing atmosphere. Among the various programs, there will be concerts, dance houses, architectural tours, children's craft workshops, adult workshops, and a craft fair. The temporary exhibitions (Essentia Artis, Zoltán Gosztonyi’s exhibition, the Kós András sculpture exhibition, and László József Molnár’s painting exhibition) as well as the permanent exhibition (The Pesti Vigadó Timeline) will be open to the public free of charge on the event day!

Except for the grand evening concert, all events are free of charge, though some programs, including the architectural tours, may require a ticket at no cost.

PROGRAMS

10:00-17:00 | CRAFT FAIR
The Open House will once again host a popular craft fair in a picturesque setting, with the participation of special local artisans. Come and take home a truly heartfelt, handmade piece of jewelry, a bag, ceramic item, textile product, or home décor!

10:00-17:00 | TOUCHABLE EXHIBITION
The Kézzelfogható Foundation focuses on the social rehabilitation of visually impaired individuals through artistic expressions. One of their areas of activity is organizing tactile, integrated, thematic exhibitions across the country, where visually impaired creators are also given the opportunity to showcase their work.

10:00-17:00 | CRAFT WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS

10:00-17:00 | HEADPIECE MAKING WORKSHOP
Let’s travel back in time, imagining the early 20th century, the bohemian 1920s! The era of long, straight, elegant dresses, short hairstyles, long gloves, pearl necklaces, pointed-toe shoes, and wild red lipsticks — a look that no lady could attend an elegant party without.
The crowning glory, quite literally, was the glamorous, sparkling, beaded, feathered, and jeweled headpieces. Join Radnóti Virág, the creative leader of VirágArt Crew, on May 10th at the Vigadó to create your own stunning headpiece.

12:30-17:00 | PICTURE CARVER WORKSHOP
In the Picture Carver Workshop, we recycle images, a photo, a moment, using simple handcraft techniques. We create pictures without a camera. We play with the material and the story of the photo.
"I bring out the grain of the trees with oil paint, I wake the subway breeze with tempera, I intertwine two golden sections, I zip the dusk over the harbor, I embrace the windows of the houses with a hemstitch, I lull the night in the tramcar of the day, I calm pixel cobblestones in the middle gray."

12:30-17:00 | ARTISKIDS ART WORKSHOPS
Let’s explore the art of Vincent Van Gogh, Picasso, or Yayoi Kusama at the Pesti Vigadó! We’ll cut, paint, glue, and while doing so, learn many interesting facts about the artists’ lives, the eras they lived in, and their creations.
Artistkids is a unique initiative in Hungary, offering a series of art workshops for children aged 3 to 14, with a focus on visual arts.

10:00-11:30 | INTRODUCTION TO PESTI VIGADÓ
In the Sinkovits Room, short films about the history and heritage of the building will be shown with English subtitles, along with mood videos of concerts and previous Open House events.

10:30-11:30 | BOGNÁR SZILVIA: TITOKTOK – INTERACTIVE FAMILY AND CHILDREN’S CONCERT
Songs, poems, rhymes, great music, dance, fun, and games... what more could we need for a joyful day? Ah, yes! A sky-blue scarf full of secrets, a real Titoktok!
Works by Sándor Weöres, Ágnes Nemes Nagy, Sándor Kányádi, and Anna Hajnal, set to folk melodies, lead us along the secret path, from Moldova to the hopscotch hidden in an alley.
Participants:
Bognár Szilvia – vocals
Bede Péter – saxophone, flute
Hámori Máté – guitar
Kovács Zoltán – double bass
Gyulai Csaba – percussion, gadulka

Registration required

11:00-11:30 | BUDAFOKI BRASS ENSEMBLE
The ensemble was formed in 2024, primarily consisting of professional wind musicians living in Budafok. The idea for the band’s formation came from the streets, and in this case, the concert stages. The band members have been regularly performing together in various domestic productions for years, and they share close friendships (and even familial ties). Therefore, it was almost inevitable that they would create their own group. The members include musicians from symphonic orchestras (such as the Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra and the Hungarian Radio Orchestra), as well as jazz and pop musicians. The band’s main goal is carefree fun and entertainment. They blend jazz and funk with Hungarian pop and dance music, so the audience can enjoy well-known tunes, spiced up with virtuoso improvisational solos.

The band members:
Barbinek Gábor – Trombone
Puskás Csaba – Trumpet
Szalóky Béla – Trumpet, Trombone
Rózsa István – Tuba
Zsemlye Sándor – Saxophone
Takács Márton – Percussion
Csáthy Miklós – Bass Trombone
Skerlecz Gábor – Trombone
Szalóky Balázs – Trumpet
Hegyi Gábor – Bass Trombone
Lovay Tamás – Trombone
Berszán Domonkos – Drums
Szalóky Tamás – Trombone
Koós-Hutás Áron – Trumpet
Majsai Roland – Drums

11:00-12:00 | CHARLESTON DANCE PERFORMANCE AND LESSON WITH THE MELODY DANCE COMPANY DANCERS
We invite our dear visitors to a joyful time travel to the decadent world of the 1920s.
Charleston is not just a dance, but a symbol of life affirmation and freedom—a way of life. After a brief introduction, we encourage those interested to join the dance lesson. The steps are simple, the music is energetic and playful, and the joy of dancing will certainly captivate every participant.

11:30-12:30 | JAZZ PERFORMANCE: BÉDY LEVENTE & TÓTH TAMÁS VITOLD
A unique musical experience awaits jazz lovers with the performance of Tóth Tamás Vitold and Bédy Levente.

12:30-13:30 | SONG FACTORY
Song Factory Budapest is a choir performing Hungarian and international pop music covers. For them, choir singing means community: it’s about relaxation, renewal, and creative expression.
They are committed to sharing the joy and beauty of music with an eclectic and diverse repertoire, aiming to bring the audience closer to the world of choral singing.
In their program, you’ll hear an exciting mix of musical styles and eras. From lively swing and jazz to pop songs spanning several decades, you’ll hear covers of iconic artists like Madonna, Keane, and Natasha Bedingfield, with Hungarian music included from Cserháti Zsuzsa to Demjén Ferenc.
We hope everyone will find a song that touches them, as we experience the power of music together.

Conductor: Hetei-Bakó Benedek, Piano accompaniment: Bobák Soma

13:45-14:45 | COMPANY CANARIO – NEW AGE – CHANGING TIMES
New century, new times, New York, Paris, Budapest. Jazz, sparkle, shorter skirts, new hairstyles, post-WWI liberation. A completely new world, all told through dance.
The dancers of Company Canario Historikus Táncegyüttes evoke the dances of the 20th century’s decades, from the slightly reserved Hesitation Waltz to the One Step, followed by a Foxtrot.
Of course, the most intimate and controversial dance, the Argentine Tango, and the era's most famous dance, the Charleston, will also be performed.
The afternoon wouldn’t be complete without inviting the audience to join the dancers for some collective dancing, to fly back to the special world of dance parties a century ago.

14:00-15:00 | "MIND IF I DANCE?" – BALLROOM DANCE HISTORY IN A LECTURE BY MONA DÁNIEL
Dance is a celebration. Dance is elegance. Dance is pure energy.
No matter the era, customs, rules, and choreographies have always determined how and when we should dance, and of course, to what music…
Whether it’s a barn dance or a court ball, dance and music have always gone hand in hand. Mona Dániel, a music historian, will take the audience through the fascinating history of dance events with a presentation, musical excerpts, and lots of exciting anecdotes from the world of ballroom dance.

Registration required

15:00-16:30 | HUNGARIAN FOLK DANCE WITH THE BUDAPEST FŐVÁROS BARTÓK DANCE ENSEMBLE
The Budapest Főváros Bartók Dance Ensemble is the adult dance group of the Bartók Workshop.
Founded 67 years ago, the ensemble has been a significant player in the Hungarian folk dance movement, regularly participating successfully in professional competitions.
Their primary goal is to master folk dance to a native level and perform it authentically on stage. Their work is marked by a deep understanding of authentic folklore, the high technical development of the dancers, and the creation of folklore and dance-theatre pieces, always based on pure sources.
The strength and unity of the community define the ensemble, and this connection binds everyone together. Their aim is to represent the Bartók name proudly, wherever they perform.

Artistic Directors: Sánta-Bíró Anna, Sánta Gergő

19:00-20:30 | EVERYTHING RENEWS ITSELF – A TRIBUTE TO ZOLTÁN KODÁLY
In this program, we celebrate spring, Resurrection, and the sound of the fire tongues with Kodály’s choral works, folk songs, cimbalom music, and storytelling.
Children’s songs conceal questions about destiny, light and playful lyrics hide our prayers, and surprising, playful lyrics—symbols of Hungarian culture—are presented in songs, music, and twisted tales. Our intention is to let the renewal of the soul shine through various genres.

Participants:
Berecz András – vocals, storytelling
Szabó Dániel – cimbalom
Cantemus Children’s Choir – Conductor: Szabó Dénes

HISTORIC WALK TOUR AT THE VIGADÓ 
Available in English and Hungarian throughout the day.
11:00-11:50 Historic walk tour at the birthplace of Budapest II. | Requires prior online registration
11:30-12:20 Historic walk tour at the birthplace of Budapest III. | Requires prior online registration
14:30-15:20 Historic walk tour at the birthplace of Budapest VI. | Requires prior online registration
15:00-15:50 Historic walk tour at the birthplace of Budapest VII. | Requires prior online registration

Registration required.


MORE DETAILS COMING SOON...

REGISTRATION BEGINS ON APRIL 11!

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