Popular programs

This programme is like a lavishly laid festive table set in the heart of Krakow: behind the dishes lie deep emotions, rich tradition and special musical seasonings. It kicks off with Stanisław Moniuszko’s fabulous fantasy overture, which combines a pinch of romance and a helping of fairy dust with lots of dramatic magic.

Two trumpets at the same time? Now that’s a party! Gábor Boldoczki and Sergei Nakariakov arrive in mid-December bearing an ideally timed sonic gift in advance of the lights of the upcoming Christmas holiday.

Whether we’re talking textiles or literature, “English” is a hallmark of excellence, and the island nation’s music rightfully deserves similar recognition.

The Clair-Obscur project is the coming together of two storied ensembles, and a unique interplay between two musical traditions.

Purcell: Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary – March, Z. 860
Elgar: Cockaigne Overture, Op. 40
Britten: Peter Grimes, Op. 33a – Four Sea Interludes

The Oscar-winning composer Tan Dun’s landmark opera blends Eastern philosophy with the language of Western music. This is the first time the work will be heard in Hungary, and it will be conducted by the composer himself. Set in the 7th century, it tells the story of the passionate love of a Japanese prince and a Chinese princess, and of their fateful quest for the legendary The Classic of Tea by Lu Yu.

A magyar-ghánai Sena Dagadu a 21. századi hazai popzene jelentős alakja, akinek az Irie Maffia zenekar és szólóprodukciói mellett meditatívabb, Sena DagaDub nevű triója is igen népszerű. A formáció 2024-ben a magyar zenei élet élő legendáját, Presser Gábort látta vendégül a Müpában, és az együttműködés annyira jól sikerült, hogy a projekt most mindkét fél – és persze a közönség – örömére folytatódik.

The production, which follows the thinking and aesthetics of marketplace puppet shows, not only allows its tiny spectators to actively participate in the performance, but specifically encourages them to do so.

Miles Davis, one of the most recognisable figures in jazz history, would have celebrated his hundredth birthday in 2026. To mark the occasion, a star trumpet player in the world of contemporary jazz, Ambrose Akinmusire, has come together with the Brussels Jazz Orchestra to embark on a joint tour, honour the giant of the genre, pay tribute to his legacy, and go beyond it by creating new works and inventive arrangements that reimagine the Miles Davis’s genius in the context of modern jazz.

Cecilia Bartoli is returning to Müpa Budapest! Any chance to host the world-famous Italian coloratura soprano/mezzo-soprano is a cause for celebration: her appearances are invariably made extraordinary by her cascading displays of scintillating technical feats and the emotional and passionate intensity of her performances.

Two vastly different yet mutually enriching musical universes meet on the Müpa stage this evening: Söndörgő, one of Hungary’s most exciting representatives of Balkan and South Slavic musical traditions, and the world-renowned Balanescu Quartet, which masterfully combines contemporary classical music with boundary-defying creative improvisation.

The rare combination of organ and accordion promises vibrant colours, magical harmonies and sparkling rhythms.

Taking the stage together with one of the world’s most celebrated orchestras at this concert will be two illustrious sons of musical families: Paavo Järvi, who hails from a family of conductors, and Alexandre Kantorow, a pianist born to violinist parents.

Jonas Kaufmann, a sokoldalú német tenor, a budapesti közönség régi kedvence emlékezetes sikerű Mein Wien (Az én Bécsem) című albumát követően új lemezén a magyarokra irányítja a reflektorfényt. A tervezett cím – Magische Töne: Berühmte Melodien aus Österreich-Ungarn, azaz Varázslatos hangok: híres dallamok az Osztrák–Magyar Monarchiából – utal arra, hogy a művész ezúttal a külföldön legismertebb magyar komponisták, köztük Goldmark Károly, Lehár Ferenc, Kálmán Imre népszerű műveiből válogat.

Mozart was insatiably in love with life. He embraced everything considered “sinful”: wine, cards, billiards. And his passion extended to musical ornaments: flowery acciaccaturas, trills, cadences others dared not risk, and chromatic runs.

Wagner
Parsifal – festive musical stage play in three acts (German-language performance, with Hungarian surtitles)

Jakub Józef Orliński is one of the most exciting performing artists of our time.

The Japanese singer-songwriter Ichiko Aoba, who is also recognised as a music publisher and acclaimed film composer, creates enchanting, ambient folk-pop songs that explore the boundaries between reality and fantasy. Her latest album, Luminescent Creatures from 2025, is considered one of the year’s most celebrated releases.

A rainbow of sounds from the orchestra, enigmatic dialogues and mysterious riddles. Not to mention a treacherous dwarf and a glorious young hero. Who after slaying a dragon and tasting its blood, is able to understand the prophetic singing of a bird. And then crosses through a wall of fire to discover both the woman who is his mate and, through his love for her, fear.

Vincenzo Bellini’s final opera is a veritable apotheosis of bel canto that should only be presented to an audience with performers displaying impeccable technique and stylistic sensibilities.

Nagyszerű tanáregyéniség, méltatlanul elfeledett remekművek és kortárs kompozíciók ihletett felfedezője, a magyar zenésztársadalom egyik legkedveltebb kiválósága – Prunyi Ilona valamennyi minőségében megérdemli az ünneplést.

A Székely gate is a symbol of ancient power, faith, hope, belonging to God, a channel of communication between heaven and earth. Its three posts represent the unity of body, soul and spirit, and its carvings are symbols that render protection, grace and blessing.

In 2024, Emir Kusturica & The No Smoking Orchestra returned to perform at Müpa Budapest. The night was one big party. Was it what we would call folk punk? Balkan rollicking? Categories are meaningless. Kusturica is very consistent in his use of music in his films. (Sometimes the songs even become hits.)

Many people were surprised when, after a successful two-year streak during which they won the A38 talent competition known as Talentométer and conquered stages across Europe, including Müpa Budapest, makrohang split up. They then caused another, more pleasant surprise with the news in 2023 that they would be reviving what they themselves call their “jazz for metalheads” sound.

Silver Bear-winning filmmaker Dénes Nagy spent four years following György Kurtág’s everyday life with his camera. The resulting documentary, produced between 2021 and 2025, far exceeds the conventional boundaries of the genre.

A Blahalouisiana billentyűse, a Black Circle Orchestrából is ismert Pénzes Máté 2023-ban jelentette meg első szólólemezét, amelyen minden dalban más-más zenész barát és példakép tűnt fel Tátrai Tibortól Solti Jánosig. Ugyanebben az évben megalakította a Pénzes Máté és a Zseb nevű formációt, amely az akkor 50 éves, legendás LGT-album, az 1973-ban megjelent Bummm! előtt tisztelgett a teljes anyag feldolgozásával.

Dare we say in advance that the 41-year-old pianist’s concert will be a wonderful experience? In this case, misleading predictions are not something we need be wary of, the programme and performer are sure to deliver catharsis.

Known for her sensitive interpretation of roles, the Finnish soprano Camilla Nylund will once again demonstrate in this evening of lieder what an outstanding performer of the German repertoire she is.

Bea Palya’s series entitled “My Silks” has been running with great success since 2015. At these concerts, where she also performs with her excellent band, Palya always introduces a female vocalist less familiar to the Hungarian audience. The events focus on bridging musical worlds and the meeting of two voices, as the artists perform both their solo material and together in the form of duets.

The 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic are a unique ensemble, composed exclusively of instrumentalists from the cello section of one of the world’s top symphony orchestras.

Nyíregyházi Cantemus Vegyeskar (karigazgató: Szabó Soma)
Budafoki Dohnányi Zenekar
Vezényel: Hollerung Gábor

It is not exclusively Hungarians that Müpa Budapest honours with the prestigious title of Artist of the Season: foreign musicians, such as the Russian piano virtuoso Denis Matsuev, for instance, have also been distinguished in this way. The prerequisites are obvious: a high level of professional excellence and a fruitful relationship with Müpa Budapest.