Ökrös Ensemble
"Hungarian Folk Music Concert"

On Friday, January 26, 2001, at 8:00 p.m., several San Diego organizations are collaborating to present an extraordinary concert of musicians from Hungary, the ÖKRÖS Ensemble, the leading folk revival band in Hungary. Ökrös is led by one of the most highly respected violinists in Hungary, Csaba Ökrös, who teams up with other excellent musicians to present authentic and unique Hungarian folk music on traditional instruments, elevating traditional Hungarian music to a high level of artistry.

KÁLMÁN BALOGH, an internationally celebrated cimbalom (hammered dulcimer) artist in the gypsy tradition, is a versatile performer accomplished on the Hungarian concert cimbalom and in folk and jazz idioms. A graduate of the Budapest Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music, he has performed with great success throughout the world. He has helped to establish the Hungarian cimbalom as a contemporary instrument.

ALADÁR CSÍSZÁR is one of the last great gypsy fiddlers from an area of Transylvania called Székelyföld [Land of the Secklers]. At age 64, he is the most important informant from this region. Born into a gypsy dynasty of musicians, he has played all his life for communities surrounding his birthplace. His playing is characterized by wild improvisations, commendable musicianship, and a charismatic style.

ÁGNES HERCZKU is a young folk singer sensation and upcoming star on the Budapest folk revival scene. Her beautiful voice and authentic presentation of Central European folk singing tradition is exciting. She is also a professional dancer and a member of the revered Honvéd Ensemble of Budapest. As a singer, she collaborates in numerous projects with well-known and respected world and folk music artists.

The ÖKRÖS ENSEMBLE is a special treat for music lovers with the marvelous ability to present the soul of their music. In addition to Csaba Ökrös, the leader of the Ensemble, members include Miklós Molnár, László Mester, László Kelemen, and Robert Doór, who are considered the best folk musicians in Hungary with impressive global recording and performance background.

There is a special relationship between ALADÁR CSÍSZÁR and the ÖKRÖS Ensemble. A new CD will be recorded in conjunction with the upcoming tour, which documents the versatile and exciting music of Székelyföld, allowing the centuries old tradition to survive. In their performance, the Ensemble performs renditions of Hungarian and Transylvanian music with extraordinary virtuosity, accompanied by female vocal and the rarely heard cimbalom.

The concert will take place at Dancing Unlimited, 4659 30th Street, San Diego, 1 block south of Adams Ave. $10.00 tickets can be reserved until 24 hours before the show or purchased at the door.

For ticket & information, call Carol Resnick at 619.466.6058; e-mail: .

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