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On The Edge Of A New Fringe

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  • On The Edge Of A New Fringe

    ON THE EDGE OF A NEW FRINGE

    Budapest Times, Hungary
    March 13 2006

    The Budapest Fringe is adding an experimental edge to the end of the
    well-known Budapest Spring Festival and perhaps will bring a carnival
    atmosphere to the streets. Whilst the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe
    drew only eight performers when it was launched in 1947, Budapest's
    fringe has already got off to a sharper start.

    Close to 1,000 artists will appear at eight venues between Friday,
    March 31 and Sunday, April 2 from noon till 2 am. Some, in true
    fringe style, are alternative, while others are not so close to
    the edge. According to Spring Festival director Zsofia Zimanyi,
    the organisers want to give unknown artists the chance to come face
    to face with an international festival audience. "This way street
    performers and rock bands, as well as professional groups not in the
    main programme of the festival will also be able take part," she said.

    "We were shocked to receive so many applications to perform," says
    Zimanyi. Alongside the many Hungarians, a number of foreigners will
    also perform. Most are from neighbouring countries, but France and
    Japan will also be represented. According to Zimanyi the festival
    will act as a kind of talent show, with the most successful artists
    to appear at the main Spring Festival next year.

    Well known and unknown

    Whilst many of the artists are unknown to Hungarian and international
    audiences alike, they will be joined by some well-known names, such
    as Ando Drom, known for their mix of authentic Gypsy music and daring
    innovations, at the Korona theatre on April 1. David Yengibarjan,
    famous for his blend of Armenian folk music, and Argentinian tango,
    will play together with the trio of Montreal-based jazz trombonist Tom
    Walsh at one of the Fringe's closing concerts at the Merlin Theatre
    on April 2.

    "There are no restrictions on the nature of performances and
    no artists were turned away," says Zimanyi. Unlike in Edinburgh,
    performers are not expected to pay for the use of stages. Financing
    the Fringe will come to around HUF 20-30 million (EUR 78,000-117,000)
    from the Spring Festival's total budget of HUF 1.2 billion (EUR 4.67
    million). Performers have been given the choice whether to charge or
    not, but most shows will be free.

    Other performances include contemporary dance from the L1 experimental
    collective, the Hungarian Youth Opera Singers with Mozart's La
    finta giardiniera, Cavalcade fire acrobats and an English-language
    performance of Alfred Sutro's comedy A marriage has been arranged,
    as well as an individual take on Debussy and Prokofiev by the Kontars
    Improvisation Centre.

    Quality and quantity

    Whilst only five city-centre venues were planned, more were added
    as artists lined up. The event will extend from the Merlin, Orkeny
    and Korona theatres, the Godor club, the Pavilion in the town-hall
    garden and open-air venues at Vorosmarty ter and Madach ter.

    If this year's Fringe proves to be a success, Zimanyi has hopes
    of attracting more international artists, or perhaps extending the
    Fringe from three days to a week next year. "This is still a very
    early stage for this event and we can't vouch for what the quality
    of the performances will be like, but the main thing is that already
    the idea has taken off."

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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