For more than ten years, the Bükk Arts Days – Baroque Festival has been organized at notable venues in and around the beautiful Baroque town of Eger.
Our aim is, on the one hand, to support the cultural life of a region that is in a less favorable position compared to other parts of the country, primarily by presenting the musical and other artistic heritage of the Baroque era, with special emphasis on that of historical Hungary. We also seek to satisfy and inspire interest in high-quality music, which is why admission is free at every event, including those held at beautiful and easily accessible venues that can accommodate larger audiences as well (Bélapátfalva, Eger, the Lyceum, the open-air stage, the courtyard of Marcipánia, Felsőtárkány, Dédestapolcsány, Feldebrő, Szilvásvárad, Ostoros, Egerszalók, etc.).
On the other hand, we consider it important to provide performance opportunities for early music ensembles from within and beyond Hungary’s borders. Over the years, we have invited, among others, the Transylvania Baroque Ensemble, the Flauto Dolce Ensemble from Cluj, the Cantica Aeterna Vocal Ensemble, and others.
Each year, the festival programs are organized around a motto. Following themes such as English, Central European, Hungarian, Italian, French, Spanish, German, Greek, Turkish, and Northern European music, as well as “Pastorale – monks, friars, shepherds,” the theme for 2026 is “Song of Songs.”
The fundamental goal of the Baroque Festival is to present music—primarily from the Baroque period—that is appropriate to the historical setting of each venue, while reaching as wide an audience as possible.
Other branches of the arts also play a role in the programs, including literature, theatre, dramatic performance, dance, and fine arts. In addition to featuring leading Hungarian artists, our goal is also to introduce young talents, emerging performers, and Hungarian ensembles from beyond the borders, thus creating opportunities for exchange of experience and mutual artistic development.
This series of events is special in that we organize performances suited to venues known for their Baroque architecture. Every year, we look for new locations, whether a new settlement (this is how the festival was extended to Dédestapolcsány) or a new venue within the city. Our chamber opera performances in the enclosed courtyard of Kopcsik Marcipánia have proved especially interesting and popular, while the open-air stage is particularly attractive to audiences. We also aim to include the notable churches of Eger and its surroundings among the festival venues.
Admission is free!
Friday, 19 June
4:30 PM | Eger, Town Hall Balcony
Open-Air Music
Featuring the Trombone Quartet of the Liszt Academy
Artistic director: Buda Gulyás
5:00 PM | Ferenc Farkas Music School
Song of Songs
A program by the Tercina Ensemble
With Anna Györgyi – actress
7:30 PM | Bélapátfalva, Abbey Church
Canticum canticorum (Palestrina 500)
Concert by the Cantus Agriensis Choir
With Kornélia Bakos (alto)
Conducted by Péter Pál Gergely
Saturday, 20 June
5:30 PM | Béla Bartakovics Community House
J. Haydn: The Songstress
(A comic opera) performed by the Budapest Chamber Opera
Gasparina, the singer – Nóra Ducza
Apollonia, her theatrical mother – Kornélia Bakos
Don Pelagio, singing master – Zoltán Megyesi
Don Ercole, a wealthy young man – Gergely Biri
Artistic director: Pál Németh
7:30 PM | Chapel of the English Ladies (8 Kossuth Lajos Street)
“In the Footsteps of King Solomon”
Excerpts from G. F. Handel’s biblical oratorios
With Eszter Balogh (alto), Lóránt Najbauer (bass)
Savaria Baroque Orchestra, conducted by Pál Németh
Sunday, 21 June
11:00 AM | Archbishop’s Court (Széchenyi Street)
In Praise of Beauty
Matinee concert by the Eger Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Máté Szabó Sipos
4:30 PM | Cistercian Church, parapet
Tower Music
Featuring the Trombone Quartet of the Liszt Academy
Artistic director: Buda Gulyás
5:00 PM | Cistercian Church
“I Sing Your Holy Name Unceasingly”
Psalms of David by Benedetto Marcello
With Nóra Ducza (soprano), Péter Bárány (countertenor), László Kéringer (tenor), László Jekl (bass)