Author: rendszergazda

Attila Pataky’s concerts on the west coast of Canada

Canadian-Hungarians in EDDA T-shirts, unforgettable parties, meetups with a rockstar and lost voice for days for those who were singing loud all the hits… Attila Pataky, the leader and main singer of the famous Hungarian band, EDDA Művek continued his Canadian tour on the west coast, giving a great opportunity for Hungarians to have a party they will never forget.

Edmonton

The concert was held at the Hungarian House of Edmonton on the 6th of April. The audience were excited to see the Hungarian singer, they arrived early and the crowd continued to grow until the start of the concert. Attila greeted the audience one by one, he said he is truly happy to have them. He is such an attentive and empathic singer.

He started the night with a short lecture, where he shared his greatest memories with the audience from the last 43 years. It was a pleasure to listen his enthusiastic stories about his carrier and his family. While Attila was prepared for the concert, DJ Gary entertained the audience with retro disco. Attila enchanted the crowd with his professionalism and vocal. Evergreen EDDA hits were danced and sang aloud by the audience. He created such an amazing atmosphere as if he was singing in a fifteen thousand arena. A family told me, that after the day of the concert the kids were singing loud the EDDA hits while they were brushing their teeth. Since the concert they always ask for some EDDA music…

Calgary

It was not the first time Attila Pataky has visited the city of Calgary, but now he did lot more than just one concert. The night started with meet and greet, where he signed, and took pictures with the fans. By the time the meet and greet ended the Culture House was full. Then Attila told stories from his new book for the audience, about family, rock and faith. The concert started after the reading, and it was absolutely amazing to see everyone started to dance and sing loud, regardless of age and gender. We heard all the hits, we sang along, and had an unforgettable night. After the concert the party did not end, thanks to DJ Gary we were in a Hungarian retro disco until dawn.

Vancouver

On the 8th of April, the tour had its final stop in Canada. An enthusiastic and large number of fans gathered at the event, which started with a public gathering. Among other things, we heard stories about EDDA, and Attila gave us insight into the life of the legendary band. During the evening, sausages and hot dogs alleviated the hunger of the people, the food was provided by the kitchen of the Hungarian House. The concert was fantastic. Some fans wore EDDA T-shirts, and almost everyone sang along the old hits. The show was a great Hungarian experience for the locals, and after that they could dance in the retro disco. This night had been known for days in Vancouver. This year the Canadian Attila Pataky tour has ended, but we got so such memorable experiences.

Thanks to the helpers and the NAHC (National Alliance of Hungarians in Canada) for the organization of the Canadian Pataky tour. Without them this tour could not have been created. Gábor Vaski, the President of the Alliance, helped not only to organize the event, but also to ensure that every tour is prepared for the shows. Attila and Gary were welcomed everywhere by enthusiastic Canadian-Hungarian crowds. The result of the careful preparation and collaboration between Hungarian organizations were six great show. If everything goes well the Canadian audience soon will be able to hear live EDDA hits again. NAHC is working to bring the entire EDDA band to Canada in the fall of 2018 to two large-scale concerts on the east and west coast.

The concert photos are posted here.

Celebrating the Hungarian Way

“Kör közepén állok, Körbevesznek jó barátok, Körbevesznek jó barátok és rosszak…” (“I’m standing in the middle of the circle surrounded by good friends and bad ones, too. . .”) These are some lyrics that all Hungarians start humming as they read them. If you are Hungarian, you know what to do when you hear the “Limbó-hintó” (Limbo coach) is coming, or the “A vonat nem vár” (”The train won’t wait”)… Every nation celebrates in different ways. There are songs, movies, tales, culinary specialties that everybody knows. Somehow the song lyrics get stuck in your head, and even if you have the worst memory, you can easily remember the words of those songs forever. You didn’t learn them in school, or memorized at the university, you just know them.

Songs, such as Hűtlen, Éjjel érkezem, Mi vagyunk a rock, Kölyköd voltam, Gyere őrült, Elhagyom a várost… to name a few of the many songs by EDDA Művek (EDDA Works) that everybody can recall within seconds of hearing them. This was not the first time Attila Pataky, the leader and lead singer of the band, has visited the country. In 2013, he had a seven-stop tour across Canada. This year the band have had concerts in Toronto, Hamilton, Cambridge with three more stops to go in Edmonton (April, 6), Calgary (April, 7), and Vancouver (April, 8).The concert starts with Attila reading out loud from his new book, titled “Mi vagyunk a rock” (We are the rock). He takes questions from the audience, and gives honest answers, about the band, his family, or his spirituality. The concert creates a great atmosphere. The audience enjoys the show so much that they sing together with Attila. After the concert DJ Gary spins retro tunes, with all the Hungarian classics from the ’70’s and ’80’s. Even the members of the older generation dance like youngsters for a few hours.

The Canadian Pataky tour is organized by National Alliance of Hungarians in Canada (NAHC). Mr. Gábor Vaski, the president of the NAHC, greeted the audience in the three cities and opened the shows. One of the main goals of NAHC is to promote and distribute the Hungarian language, cultural heritage, history, folklore and traditions among the Hungarian communities in Canada.

Concerts like these, make a great opportunity for Hungarians to celebrate together. The shows were enjoyed by performers and audience alike, and hopefully it is not the last time Pataky will visit Canada.

Photos about the event are posted here.
Sára Lehoczki, KCSP, Toronto

Bokréta Winter Workshop

Between the 17-19th of February, the focus of North America’s Hungarian folkdance world was relocated to Île-Perrot, not far from Montréal. Over 100 dancers gathered here from all over North America to dance together, learn the dances of Szászcsávás and last but not least, to carouse.

Borkéta tábor

The Bokréta Ensemble celebrates this year its 50th anniversary. The members of the ensemble – besides Hungarian dancers – are mostly French Quebecers, so the fact that they sing perfectly in Hungarian is even more creditable. The group works on such a high level that by regular practices, performances, visits to Hungary and Transylvania they can participate in regional festivals overseas and learn new techniques locally, also.

The workshops were lead by two teachers from Hungary: Hortenzia Lőrincz and István Hahn-Kakas, besides them a populous group of artists has arrived from Szászcsávás: three members of the Gipsy band from the village of Csávás that was joined by Levente Fazakas, and Montréal folk musicians Levente Garda, Attila Krasznai and Sergiu Popa.

Most of participants arrived in the afternoon of 17th, and occupied their accomodation. The táncház (dance house) of the evening lasted until dawn.

The next day, daytime workshops were held, where participants could learn the Hungarian dances of Szászcsávás. But the peak of the weekend was just about to come now, namely the Csávás Ball. As a warm-up, the táncház for children has opened its doors at 7 PM, then the guests of the Ball arrived as well.

Csávás Ball was opened by the concert of the virtuousely playing musicians. They performed a spellbinding set of Hungarian, Rumanian and Gipsy songs to show the unbelievable cultural variegation of Küküllőmente region of Transylvania.

The music performance was followed by the breathtaking show of Bokréta Ensemble, they presented a flamboyant choreography from Kalocsa. The audience’s reply was an uneasing applause, and shortly almost everybody has hit the dancefloor in the táncház. It started with the common teaching of the basics of Hungarian dances from Szászcsávás, then we danced ’lead dances’ to which ones even absolute beginners could join. Being Carnaval (farsang) time, venturesome dancers were wearing different costumes, that the jury considered at the fancy dress competition. Teaching was followed by free dance and revelry until early morning.

The Csávás Ball was run with an absolute full house, almost 200 guests, in an amazing atmosphere. Hungary’s ambassador to Canada, Dr. Bálint Ódor and Dorottya Deák-Stifner cultural attaché marked the event by honouring us with their presence.

Last day of the camp was fulfilled with workshops, and at the evening a closing táncház awaited the unwearying participants. During these 3 enriching days we all have learned a lot, and the teachers from Hungary stayed after for a whole week to teach a brand new choreography to the legendary Bokréta Ensemble.

Photos about the event are posted here.
Dorka Kornélia Takácsy, KCSP, Montréal