Just some pics from a walk around the new theater in Budapest

A cruise to dreaming ?


Old theater symbol

Amazing as it may seem, this floating beauty is actually the New National Theatre of Hungary (located in Budapest, next to the Danube). The arches sinking to the bottom of the water are supposed to represent the old National Theatre, replaced by this new one. Heaven knows what the Titanic style design of the new Theatre might stand for. I suspect that from certain parts of Buda (opposite side of Budapest) it could give the impression of a huge steamboat lingering on the Danube. Although I've never actually been to these certain parts, and always found that the building wasn't really close enough to the Danube to have this effect.

The construction of the Theatre was a political issue, hence the Erzsébet square pit (Erzsébet téri gödör) as referred to by many Hungarians. True, the Theatre was originally planned on the Erzsébet square (right next to Deák square) the buildings were already started, a huge hole has been dug for the basement when due to a change of government the constructions were stopped and everything was restarted elsewhere. Don't ask me the details, ever since the overthrow of the "communist" regime we have a change of government every four years and it has now become a custom among new leading parties to stop whatever the formal government started and couldn't finish in their four years period. To increase the fun it has been secretly agreed upon never to start anything before the third year of their mandate. This fair play rule insures that the coming government always has something to bring to a standstill.

Thanks to this jolly game of political see-saw Budapest still only has three metro lines and although a fourth metro line has been planned for over 9 years now (and rumours say that even the constructions have been started) I very much doubt if they'll ever finish it. Never mind, at least those three lines we have are still rather peaceful.

Sophie

I went to see a great play in English a week or so ago here. Lovely setting and a good night. Try and catch it if you can. I hope they will be performing some more plays in English, it was a full house the night i was there so it bodes well!!

Heres the link

http://www.nemzetiszinhaz.hu/repertoar.php?id=633

Thank you HM, I’d love to go and see it. Both the play and the theatre - I’ve never actually been inside.

If any of you is going to the National Theatre, don’t miss the new concert hall right next to it (called something like “Palace of Arts” I think). It’s a horrible building from the outside but has an incredible interior design. Very futuristic, I’d say.

Alice

An overview of the inside
It's on top of technology, quite futurist. All elements of the stage can be moved and resized

Wow, you're amazing Daniel. Hardly did I mention the new concert hall, you publish these magnificent photos. Thank you. For all your photos in fact.

Alice

Don't be so kind with me

Does it mean I'm allowed to post some others here ? I'll enjoy doing it



This one only for you, don't tell anybody

Don’t worry Daniel, my lips are sealed.

Daniel, you're truly amazing with the most amazing photos!

sophie wrote:

Although I've never actually been to these certain parts, and always found that the building wasn't really close enough to the Danube to have this effect.

Letting alone architectural interests, the park in front of the building makes a great platground for little children! I tried it a few times with different sets of children (wow, did I succeed? ) and they just loved it! (Of course I had to run and climb all the time, but that's just my way with children. )

sophie wrote:

Thanks to this jolly game of political see-saw Budapest still only has three metro lines and although a fourth metro line has been planned for over 9 years now (and rumours say that even the constructions have been started) I very much doubt if they'll ever finish it.

(These rumours are - sadly - false. The building of the 4. line haven't started, and will not at least until after the elections. The nice giant ad on Baross square stating "Our business is Metro 4" is just not true - in fact, they're building a new exit for the Metro 2 station.)

About the National Theater - I wasn't too impressed by the inside. Nice, but a bit industrial in size for me, with all the same furniture... and lacked comfort at the hall for the break. The Concert Hall - ugly from outside, but got a lot better as I went in for a little walkaround at daytime. Thanks to your photo, Daniel, I can see the best is yet to come at a concert. And I've been told the acoustic is magnificent.

G

I found a webcam (4 to be precise) on the National Theatre's website. Have a look at 7 pm when the plays begin, two of the webcams are directed on the stages.