The three-day 20th Arcus Temporum Arts Festival ended with great success on 25 August at the Pannonhalma Abbey. The contemporary art festival was a true community celebration, not only because of the two-decade anniversary of the programme, but also because this year the Benedictine monastic community is celebrating the 800th anniversary of the medieval restoration and consecration of St. Martin's Basilica. The organisers have thus launched a series of events under the motto "Celebration in celebration".

 

This year's five Arcus concerts juxtaposed the work of Mozart with that of the recently deceased Péter Eötvös, an exciting pairing in itself, not to mention the fact that the eminent Hungarian composer - one of his last works - chose the works himself, with András Keller, the artistic director of this year's festival, who has appeared on stage on several occasions not only as a conductor but also as a violinist. A truly unique experience was the applause-free dawn concert, where the audience took their seats in the upper sanctuary of the 800-year-old basilica at sunrise, close to the musicians, as well as the chamber music concert in the Lady of the Assumption Chapel and the opening concert, entitled Dialogues, which was made even more festive by the light painting projected onto the façade of the 800-year-old basilica during the intermission. The Eötvös Path was also a unique experience, with several stops offering a variety of performances.

 

"I am the artistic director of the festival every other year, and we started planning this year's programme two years ago. I wanted Péter Eötvös to meet Mozart at this year's Arcus; when I told him about it, he was very happy with the idea. He has several works inspired by Mozart that will be performed at the festival. We were able to discuss in broad terms the kind of pieces he would like to have performed before Peter left us in March." - said artistic director András Keller in an interview.

 

The monastic community at this year's Arcus - as it has throughout the entire commemorative year - sought to make Pope Francis' words that Pannonhalma Abbey is the great spiritual monument of the country, a place of prayer and a bridge of brotherhood, present. The spiritual and artistic programmes reflected the Basilica800 commemorative year. Archpriest Cyril T. Hortobágyi personally guided the participants through the eight hundred year old church, accompanied by Ybl Prize-winning architect Robert Gutowski and accordionist David Yengibarian, while the Organ Tour showed the special instruments of the Archabbey.

 

Guests were invited to "take the time to find a home in the 800-year-old church. Let us spend time in a space of culture, music, visual arts, literature and spirituality. The twentieth festival was a true celebration. It was a celebration of Mozart and Peter Eötvös, a celebration of encounters, but also a celebration of reflection. Experiencing the concentrated, dedicated presence of the artists and guests, their need for silence and encounter, their enthusiasm for the celebrated monastery church, we received as a birthday present the confirmation that it is worth continuing in this way, for us organizers, staff, artistic directors and volunteers, and that we must build the big family of the Arcus Temporum Festival and love it very much." - said Father Konrád Dejcsics, Festival Director.

 

The jubilee festival was hosted by Pál Mácsai. For three days, the audience was welcomed by such outstanding musicians as the Concerto Budapest and the orchestra soloists András Keller, the Keller Quartet and the Korossy Quartet, Izabella Simon and Dénes Várjon, Máté Szűcs, Csaba Klenyán.

 

The performance, a collaboration between the University of Theatre and Film Arts and the University of Fine Arts, also reflected on the 800th anniversary of the Feast in Celebration motto. In the performance piece led by József Mélyi, a time capsule was placed next to the Chapel of the Assumption.

 

Literary guest of honour Géza Röhrig, star of the Oscar-winning film Saul's Son, came to Pannonhalma and this time presented his literary side. After a discussion, Szilárd Borbély's works were performed by Pál Mácsai and Piroska Molnár in a reading theatre performance edited by Sándor Bazsányi.

 

The anniversary festival was supported by the MOL New Europe Foundation and the National Cultural Fund.

 

The theme of the 21st Arcus Temporum Festival 2025 will be built around the Garden. The artistic directors will be the pianist-housemates Izabella Simon and Dénes Várjon, who participated in this year's festival as performers. They will organise the 2025 festival's concert programme around the works of composers Mendelssohn and Jörg Widmann.

 

"We had a lot of wonderful experiences during this weekend. The spiritual spirit of the place, the loving hospitality of the Benedictine monks who live here, the joy of playing with the orchestra and Andás Keller, the enthusiasm of the audience, all gave us wonderful moments. We are already preparing for the next festival with lots of exciting plans and ideas. For now, I can tell you that our two composers of choice will be Felix Mendelssohn and Jörg Widmann." (Izabella Simon, Dénes Várjon)