State Increases Support For Budapest Festival Orchestra

Under a framework agreement signed on Friday, the Budapest Festival Orchestra will operate as a non-profit organisation between 2006 and 2010 with the help of state support to be specified each year. The agreement was signed by Minister of Culture András Bozóki, undersecretary András Benedek, Budapest Festival Orchestra foundation chairman Miklós Marshall and the orchestra?s musical director Iván Fischer.

Under the agreement, the orchestra will play 48 concerts in Budapest and at least five concerts in other Hungarian cities each year. In addition, at least 30 concerts will be given abroad to promote Hungarian culture.

Since its founding in 1983, the Budapest Festival Orchestra has become one of Hungary?s most important orchestras, Minister András Bozóki said after the signing. He added that Iván Fischer, who was last week awarded the Kossuth Prize, Hungary?s highest honour for artists, is ?one of the greatest, internationally-renowned? Hungarian musicians.

The Budapest Festival Orchestra?s audience has continually grown over the years, a fact recognised by the ministry?s decision to increase support for the orchestra, Fischer said.

The Budapest Festival Orchestra will operate on a budget of around HUF 1.3 billion this year, half of which will come from ticket sales, revenue from tours and recordings abroad, and from private sponsorship ? a level of self financing unmatched by any other orchestra in Europe, according to Marschall.

Since 2000, the orchestra has been exclusively operated by the BFZ Foundation. In the future, the orchestra plans to finance its operation in equal part from government support, city council support and its own finances. The Budapest City Council is providing the orchestra with HUF 440 million this year.