New Year’s Day Budapest Gala Concert with Optional Danube River Dinner Cruise

 

Programul activitatii

Make your own way to the Danube Palace in central Budapest and take your seat in the beautiful neo-Baroque theater for your New Year’s Day evening concert.

Welcome the musicians of the Danube Symphony Orchestra on stage and lose yourself in classical melodies by Mozart, Strauss and other famous composers. The music is lent extra resonance by the Hungarian cimbalom, a stringed musical sound box beloved by Hungarian folk musicians. Played by striking two soft mallets on the strings, the cimbalom was first used by Middle Eastern nomads before being adopted by Hungarian gypsies and becoming central to Hungary’s folk music.

The cimbalom’s shimmering chords add texture to the music, creating a distinctive sound rarely heard outside Eastern Europe. What’s more, the musical program is specially compiled just for this New Year’s concert — making it truly special.

When the hour-long concert ends, leave the theater and head back to your hotel. Alternatively, if you’ve upgraded to enjoy the Danube River cruise, join your nearby cruise boat. Relax in the candlelit atmosphere as you glide past Budapest’s most distinctive landmarks, including the Buda Castle District, Mount Gellert and Chain Bridge, all spectacularly illuminated. Enjoy a glass of Sparkling wine, wine, beer, water or a soft drink and savor a hot buffet of Hungarian dishes as you sail. See the Itinerary for a sample menu. As you eat, enjoy live music from members of the Hungária Folk Orchestra, a lovely added touch to your evening.

After around 1.5 hours, your concert-and-cruise experience ends when you ship returns to its original start point.

Itinerariu

Sample Menu:

Buffet:

• Spiced cottage cheese cream and traditional greaves (traditional creamy bacon sauce)
• Goulash with noodles
• Vegetable soup with tarragon and noodles
• Stuffed cabbage rolls
• Roasted chicken breast marinated with basil and served with cheese sauce
• Spicy pork ribs marinated with thyme and served with mustard sauce
• Traditional paprika-seasoned chicken
• Roasted fish served with Chardonnay sauce
• Grilled polenta with feta cheese
• Homemade spinach dumplings served with mustard and mushroom sauce
• Fresh seasonal salad with a selection of dressings
• Italian pasta salad
• Caesar salad
• Hash browns and roasted potatoes
• Grilled vegetables
• Steamed jasmine rice with corn

Dessert:

• Homemade strudel
• Trifle-style sponge cake
• Traditional European dessert and miniature tart platter
• Seasonal fruit basket

Program:

Part 1.

Hector Berlioz: Rákóczi March (Orchestra)

Zoltán Kodály: Intermezzo–from opera Háry János (Orchestra)

Johannes Brahms: HungarianDancesNo. 5. (Orchestra with cimbalom solo)

Béla Bartók: Roumanian Folk Dances ( Orchestra)

Ferenc Erkel: Palotás – from the opera Hunyadi László (Orchestra)

Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2. (Orchestra with cimbalom solo)

Part 2.

Franz Lehár: Eva-Waltz (Ballett Ensemble)

Emmerich Kálmán:The Czardas Queen– „Dasist die Liebe”

Franz Lehár: The Merry Widow- Medley ( Orchestra)

Franz Lehár: The Merry Widow– „Grisetten Lied und Kan-Kan (Ballett Ensemble)

Grigoraş Ionică Dinicu: The nightingale ( Gypsy Band )

A csitári hegyek alatt… (Hungarian Folksong, Gypsy Band)

Vittorio Monti: Czardas (Gypsy Band)

Emmerich Kalman: The Devil-rider– Palotás ( Orchestra, Ballett Ensemble)

Emmerich Kálmán: Countess Mariza– „Komm mit nach Varazdin”

Johann Strauss jr.:Long live the Magyar! Op. 332. ( Orchestra)

Emmerich Kálmán: Countess Mariza– „Braunes Mädel von der Pussta” ( Ballett Ensemble)

Repere

Buffet dinner included

Likely to Sell Out

See the sights illuminated at night

Travel by boat and see the sights from the water