Karafiáth 50

This programme is held in Hungarian.

Orsolya Karafiáth is many things, but basically a poet and writer. She started with poems, as a little diva, then came the novels, songs and plays. And appearances and a punk band and moderating and journalism – and the list could go on. For thirty years she has never had to step back, which she is now celebrating with her creative partners in a big birthday show woven through with stand-up elements and poems.

There will be projections, and nostalgia, and a mini-play with a surprise guest, but there won’t be speeches, although she will talk. She will also tell stories that she has never shared publicly before. Her artist friends will help her do this.
This one-off occasion will have a musical framework, the main story, for which Andrea György, violinist, singer and improvisational musician, is responsible for the music.
After her classical music studies, Andrea first turned towards the underground and world music, then towards jazz and improvisation. As a former student of the Secondary School of Visual Arts (Kisképző), she is inspired by an interdisciplinary approach, which led to her becoming a frequent performer in contemporary dance pieces, physical theatre, performances, as well as an accompanist at literary evenings and exhibition openings.
She plays in many Hungarian and international formations as a violinist, singer or vocalist, sometimes also as a composer. Alongside her session work, the freedom of improvisation is especially important to her. She obtained her jazz violin degree at the jazz department of the Béla Bartók Conservatory. In her solo project, using several instruments and effect pedals, her music is born live, in the given moment. Her distinctive motifs are inspired by world music, jazz and modern soundscapes. She has worked, among others, with the Willany Leó Improvisational Dance Theatre (Zoltán Grecsó), Mihály Víg, Géza Bereményi and the band Malacka és a Tahó. Lots of instruments, electronics and vocals – this is how she will be present, and
Timed to the evening, Orsolya’s new book, titled “Sehogyse”, will be published by Scolar Publishing. Andrea will already bring poems from it, transformed into songs. 
The show’s other musical accompaniment is Eszter Ónodi & the Open Pub band. The band is a group organized around Jászai Award-winning actress Eszter Ónodi by guitarist-producer Péter Kirschner (Sziámi, János Bródy).

Eszter Ónodi – vocals
Péter Kirschner – guitar, vocals, producer (Sziámi, János Bródy’s band)
Bálint Szeifert – double bass, vocals (Mörk)
Zita Bakos – piano, synthesizer (Sziámi, János Bródy’s band)
Márton Tóth – drums (Sziámi, János Bródy’s band)

The composer is Péter Kirschner, and most of the lyrics are by Orsolya Karafiáth.

A one-and-a-half-hour musical, literary and storytelling journey with the celebrant, the musicians and surprise guests. And with exciting projections. 

Visuals: Miklós Szalay and Márta Kállai

Photos by Márta Kállai / Scolar Kiadó
Make-up: Xénia Kökövics
Thanks to the Dugattyús Ház for letting us work in the STUDYÚ.

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