Folk tent opening concert: István Pál Szalonna and his band

István Pál Szalonna and his band, winner of the Hungarian Heritage Award, have chosen the preservation and transmission of the culture of the Carpathian Basin as their mission. A culture which roots go back hundreds of years and which can be a real strength for our survival.

In their concerts, they offer an insight into the folklore treasure of the Carpathian Basin, with a repertoire that includes authentic folk music as well as folk adaptations. The band has performed at all of Hungary's major festivals, but they have also performed and toured all over the world. They have played in Venezuela, India, Greece, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Mexico, the United States and many other countries.

The founder and leader of the orchestra is István Pál, Hungary's Artist of Merit, artistic director of the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble and Liszt Ferenc Prize-winning conductor. He appears on the records of many renowned singers and bands as a contributor, but he is also active as a composer.

The members of the orchestra are Eszter Pál (vocals), István Pál Szalonna (violin), Tamás Gombai (violin), Gyula Karacs (viola), Sándor Ürmös (cimbalom), Attila Gera (wind instruments), Róbert Doór (double bass).