Teodóra Bán, Managing & Artistic Director of Budapest Summer Festival, Executive Director of BFTK Photo by Szilvia Csibi / Budapest Summer Fest
Coming up the stairs to the where we were sitting, Teodóra Bán exuded an energy and poise only a former ballerina could achieve—although given my own ballet training I may be biased. Talking rapidly into her mobile, she still managed to make sure we felt welcome with a gracious nod and a gesture indicating she would be just one moment. In a chic pink sheath dress falling just above the knee and hair down but carefully arranged, Bán was all dancer, despite being off the stage for now 20 years. And yet, nowadays, she’s really all business—the business of Hungarian culture.
It would be midway through our interview when Bán offered up her full vision on promoting and presenting both local and foreign talent for Hungarians and tourists alike to enjoy. “Culture,” she began, “is a national product, like software. Selling tickets is then the hardware, the money that comes in. And that money then goes back into improving and growing the software.” Essentially, selling culture drives further development of culture (and infrastructure for that culture) in Budapest and throughout Hungary. Makes sense.
And this system has been working beautifully. Now in her 15th year at the helm of Budapest’s Summer Festival, Bán is behind the 120 programs that run during June, July, and August at the open-air theaters on Margaret Island and Varosmajor park. The season opened back on June 9th with the annual Barefoot in the Park concert, with a selection of classical works performed on a special stage in front of a vast meadow on Margaret Island. The audience lounged, picnicked, and were ultimately invited to get up and waltz on the grass along with the dancers on stage.
Barefoot in the Park Photo by Viki Fürjes / Budapest Summer Fest
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Barefoot in the Park Margaret Island
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A quick glimpse through a few offerings for the rest of the summer season shows sold-out or near sold-out performances, including a film music concert with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra playing scores from movies such as Star Trek The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Superman, and Conan the Barbarian.
"Culture is a national product, like software.”
Margaret Island’s 80-year old Open-Air Theatre has already shown the Great Gatsby Ballet with soloists from Saint Petersburg Mariinszkij Ballet, a symphonic performance of Carmina Burana, and Rigoletto with Giuseppe Altomare, Arturo Chacón-Cruz, and Zita Szemere. It has already or will also host Caramel, Miklós Fenyő, and Magna Cum Laude. Over at the Varósmajor stage, audiences will be treated to performances by flutist Eszter Horgas flutist and the ClassJazz Band, Pop, Swing & Soul: An evening with Mariann Falusi –Gabi Szűcs –Eszter Váczi, and Budapest Bár.
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Giuseppe Altomare, Arturo Chacón-Cruz in Rigoletto Photo by Vera Éder / Budapest Summer Fest
Of course, the fun—nor Bán’s work—stops when summer ends. There will be the Café Budapest Contemporary Fall Festival, the Winter Christmas Festival (with three separate markets/outdoor stages throughout the capital), and the Spring Festival. Budapest is thus open year-round for tourists to come, enjoy, learn, and take home some positive and beautiful memories of what this thousand-year-old country has to offer. And Bán is making sure there are plenty of major events during all four seasons to attract visitors and keep them coming back—or at least tell their neighbors, family, and friends to visit too.
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Budapest's Christmas markets are a magical experience, full of lights, Hungarian delicacies, music, and beautiful hand-crafted gifts.
In relation to this, Bán is also the Executive Director of BFTK (Budapest Festival and Tourist Center) for the past five years to carefully curate the city’s offerings so that when foreigners Google things to do in Europe, Budapest pops up with the most exciting and enriching offers. Opera, symphonies, art galleries, film and food festivals, river cruises, gourmet restaurants, traditional Hungarian cuisine… and of course the mesmerizing sights of beautiful Budapest. Bán has even helped create the Budapest Card, offering a bevy of custom experiences and discounts of up to 50% on various programs and attractions.
To date, some 20% of attendees to performances at the Margaret Island and Varósmajor stages are foreigners: an impressive figure, but there is still room for growth. And what about the younger generation? Caramel and Magna Cum Laude are definite pulls for younger crowds, but what about the classical symphonies, jazz, and opera? As it happens, I was shocked—rather happily surprised—to see a number of young couples (early 20s) and families with kids at Rigoletto. Bán acknowledges the challenge in engaging youth when it comes to the more traditional genres. Nevertheless, she feels the casual open-air theater on Margaret Island helps combat some of the hesitation on the part of younger ones today; that is, if they don’t have to get dressed formally and can be in a more relaxed, open environment, they will be more willing to buy a ticket and enjoy the music being played and stories told.
To date, some 20% of attendees to performances at the Margaret Island and Varósmajor stages are foreigners: an impressive figure, but there is still room for growth. And what about the younger generation? Caramel and Magna Cum Laude are definite pulls for younger crowds, but what about the classical symphonies, jazz, and opera? As it happens, I was shocked—rather happily surprised—to see a number of young couples (early 20s) and families with kids at Rigoletto. Bán acknowledges the challenge in engaging youth when it comes to the more traditional genres. Nevertheless, she feels the casual open-air theater on Margaret Island helps combat some of the hesitation on the part of younger ones today; that is, if they don’t have to get dressed formally and can be in a more relaxed, open environment, they will be more willing to buy a ticket and enjoy the music being played and stories told.
Arturo Chacón-Cruz, and Zita Szemere in Rigoletto Photo by Vera Éder / Budapest Summer Fest
“When people Google events in Europe, we want
Budapest to be at the top of the page.”
She also touches on something else. If the players are younger themselves… fit and attractive (Giuseppe Altomare, Arturo Chacón-Cruz, and Zita Szemere all good examples), it doesn’t hurt. It’s simply makes performances easier for a more youthful audience to relate to. It’s the business of art, but, hey, it’s still the business of selling. And Bán makes sure there’s something for everyone.
Teodóra Bán & Guests at Barefoot in the Park Photo by Viki Fürjes / Budapest Summer Fest
Time has flown by, and we both have schedules to get back to. Bán had greeted me with a cordial handshake but says goodbye with a big hug. Her dedication and professionalism as ambassador of Hungarian culture is matched only by her radiance and warmth. And her country is clearly grateful for her service, as indicated by her appointment to the the Hungarian Order of Merit in 2017.
Bán has quite obviously never left the stage; her stage just got a whole lot bigger.
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