The legendary African Orchestra Baobab is one of the world’s most renowned and unusual ensembles. The Senegalese group formed in 1970 revolutionised its country’s music life, giving rise to a sparkling big city music scene also in the capital, Dakar. Baobab notched up more hits in its first ten years than many other groups achieve in a lifetime.
Sidelined for a while in their own country by the impetus they had generated, the group split up in 1985 but later bowed to the pressure of their international fans and 2001 saw the triumphant rebirth of Baobab. The group is once again on the top of the charts.
“When I arrived in Senegal in 1968, all I could hear everywhere was Cuban music,” recalls Barthélemy Attisso, Baobab’s guitarist from Togo. “Back home we had been listening to Nigerian highlife and guitar music from Congo, but in Dakar Cuban music was played in all the clubs … Moreover it wasn’t played by Cubans, they were all Senegalese!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldLO4LwNLHY

Fantastic, indescribably frenetic performance
The story began in a pizza place in North Berlin, where a whole group led by Max Raabe – the members of what was later to be the Palastorchester – decided to play the greatest dance and film music of the 1920s and 1930s in their own interpretation. A piano, guitar, sousaphone and drums add to the orchestra’s basic sound.

What do Oops, I did it again, Let's talk about sex and Sex bomb have in common? Max Raabe. During the festival many people can see for themselves this crazy fellow who arranges and sings today’s hits in the style of the twenties and thirties. Brilliant and very funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAAFMKWHfAY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6N4ljsR_Yo&feature=related

http://www.palastorchester.de/

This show showcases songs performed by Cantors, music performed by a Klezmer band and video displays. The play is set in a Hungarian town. The narrator Shmuel is the son of the town’s former Rabbi. After his father’s death he returns to see what has happened to the place he grew up in and the synagogue he knew so well. He finds that nothing is left of the synagogue but a chest of relics. His exploration of its contents is accompanied by the Cantors, representing voices from the Jewish past. His nostalgic stories of life in the Jewish community in Hungary are brought to life by music and videos. This performance will be of interest to a wide audience of music lovers, both those familiar with Jewish cantorial music and those interested in widening their horizons; it will also appeal to audiences interested in history, as it provides a glimpse of the Jewish past in Hungary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpqVYvPIv1s

The Russian family that won the hearts of audiences
The Teatr Licedei founded in Leningrad (St Petersburg) in 1968 is Russia’s first and still only clown theatre. Over the past ten years the company has appeared in many countries, has been made honorary citizen of Lexington USA and won first prizes at festivals in Colombia, Hong Kong, China, Germany, the Netherlands and France.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-SuCWIfVU4

The whole world knows and understands them
Nowadays the reputation of the Teatr Licedei is based on the indisputable and clearly perceptible alchemy of popular farce and different forms of contemporary Russian mime, with roots that reach back to commedia dell’arte. They create equilibrium of these components with wisdom and the recklessness indispensable for the creation of its cruel and biting humour, culminating in anger and surreal images.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-SuCWIfVU4

Be our guest at an aristocratic banquet.
Time travel to the 18th century. Period dishes, fashion and music.

Not only humorous but also powerful
Their faces are painted white like clowns and they have foolish, wary expressions. The absurd comes naturally to them. Their noses are not red, but their hair looks as though it has just been hit by a firecracker. Nobody says a word but everybody understands everything and laughs uncontrollably. The future demands a place in life, where the mother, constantly grimacing as a femme fatale in her shabby sandals and the tipsy father, who drinks even when there is a broomstick in his coat sleeve, come together again and again. In this shocking family the grandmother writhes in a corner, constantly scolds as though she were about to succumb to a disease, while South American melodies radiating gentleness and warmth are heard. The Family radiates humanity and uses the tools of entertainment to reject emptiness and fear. We must not resign ourselves. We must not be left alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-SuCWIfVU4

The most amusing and least predictable family of our time
Plastic movement and mime, musical accompaniment and pure expressive power replace words. Laughter and tears, joy and sorrow, good and evil – these are the simple emotions and truths appearing in the art of the Licedei that everybody understands no matter what their backgrounds are. The Licedei is ranked among the world’s leading companies in the clown theatre category.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-SuCWIfVU4

World famous British virtuoso Nigel Kennedy has enjoyed huge popularity for over 25 years and is unquestionably one of the greatest violinists of all times. Thanks to a brilliant technique, exceptional talent and radiant personality, he is equally at home in classical and contemporary music and jazz. On his visit to Budapest, he and his quintet take us on a journey inspired by jazz, folk and world music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0rTC9Lr_Lk

http://www.nigelkennedy.com/index.html