(above photo © Jaime Silva)

Iparművészeti Múzeum
(Museum of Applied Arts)
(36) 1 – 456 5100
1092 Budapest, Hőgyes Endre utca,
Budapest, Hungary

www.imm.hu.
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Open Hours:
2:00 pm – 6:00pm    Tuesday
10:00am – 6:00pm    Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
10:00am – 10:00pm  Thursday

In 1872 the Hungarian Parliament decided to purchase “industrial Vienna’s” 1873 World Exhibition and in 1890 a contest was held to design a suitable building to house the collection and be home to the School of Applied Arts on Hõgyes Endre street.

First prize was won by a series of plans, put forth by architects  Ödön Lechner and Gyula Pártos, inspired in oriental forms.  Construction began in 1893 and the building was opened by emperor Franz Joseph on October 25th 1896 as part of the Hungarian State’s millenium celebration.

Today, the Building itself is the main attraction. It is another fine example of Hungarian secession splendor; a fairytale palace full of angles, stairwells, columns and details that enchant the eye at every turn.

The Museum itself has 5 departments: Metalwork, Furnuture, Textiles, Ceramics and Glassware. In each department you can enjoy equisit examplels of Art Nouveau crafts.  Here we glimpse the joy that defined the movement- the bringing of love, light, fancy and flare to many a mundane necessity.  I wish today’s designers would indulge in a a bit more fantasy and get over this post-modernist utilitarianism

An interesting fact, according to the literature,  is that this was the third museum to be built in Europe after the British Museum and and another in France (we’re trying to find a chronology, but having difficulty)

colored roof tiles from the Zsolnay porcelain factory, hand painted with plant motifs

(above photo © Lorenzo Raffio)

Szépmûvészeti Múzeum
(Museum of Fine Arts)
(36) 1 – 469 7100
Dózsa György út 41, 1146
Budapest, Hungary

www.szepmuveszeti.hu
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Open Hours:
10:00am – 5:30pm  Tuesday – Sunday

The Szépmûvészeti Fine arts museum is in a neoclassical building located on Heroes’ Square -across from Műcsarnok (Palace of Arts) and next to Varosliget (the largest city park in Budapest).  It is also close to the zoo and the Széchenyi Baths.   Designed by by Albert Schickedanz and Fülöp Herzog, groundbreaking was in 1896 to commemorate the  millennium of the Hungarian State and it was completed in 1903.

The art collection is home to works from Pablo Picasso, Oskar Kokoschka, Manet, Pierre Puvis de Chavanes, Paul Gauguin, Mark Chagall, Paul Cezanne, Henri de Touluse Lautrec, Delacroix, Corot, Rodin….

Check the website or local listings for information on special exhibits; they are normally quite fantastic, definitely worth the trip.  On our last visit there was  a Mucha exhibition, ‘In Praise of Women” that was so touching; I am still hoping for it to come to NY so I can see it again!

The museum is very easy to get to by Metro, just take it to the Heroes’ Square Station.

(above photo Attic Marble Sarcophagus © Smita )

(above photo Ancient Frieze © Grytsje Klijnstra )

Magyar Állami Operaház
(Hungarian State Opera House)
(36) 1 – 332 8197
(36) 1 – 279 5677
1065 Budapest Hajós str. 13-15
Budapest, Hungary

www.opera.hu.
www.operavisit.hu.
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Guided Tours:
3:00 pm   Daily
4:00 pm   Daily

The Hungarian State Opera House first opened its doors in 1884.  Designed by Miklós Ybl, one of the most renowned Hungarian architects of the 19th century, the construction was created in an eclectic, neo-Renaissance style.  There are many baroque details and frescoes by the top Hungarian artists of the time, including Bertalan Székely, Árpád Feszty,  Mór Than and Károly Lotz.  On either side of the risalit are statues of Ferenc Liszt and Ferenc Erkel, two of the outstanding artists of Hungarian music.  Both being the work of Alajos Stróbl.

(above Left    photo © Yuen-Ping)
(above Right photo © Yuen-Ping)

A wonderful place for listening as well as viewing, the Hungarian State Opera House is home to the third best acoustics in al of Europe! With only the Scala in Milan and the Paris Opera House creating a more detailed sound environment.

If you are not able to attend a performance, then try to  take the guided tour.  The tours are given twice daily in many different languages. Although they are bit formulaic and the guide may be on the weak side- they are definitely worth it just to have the chance to explore the interior of this magnificent concert hall.

more info

Új Színház
(New Theatre)
(36) 1 – 269 6021
(36) 1 – 269 6024
(36) 1 – 351 8510
1061 Budapest Paulay Ede utca 35
Budapest, Hungary

www.szinhaz.hu.
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Ticket Office Hours:
2:00pm – 7:00pm  Daily

The New Theater – Új Színház – is located across the street from the opera house.  Walk to the end of the narrow Dalszinhaz Utca and you will see this very striking Art Deco edifiace.

Designed in 1909 bu Hungarian architect Béla Lajta the Új Színház was originally the night club Parisiana.  In 1910 the name was changed to the Crystal Pallace and in 1912 it was changed again to the simpler Dance Pallace. The name game continued in 1919 when  the moniker became the Variety Theatre and then quickly afterwards in 1925 The National Theatre and later both the Studio Theatre and Andrássy Theatre.

In the 1950′s the façade was restored and it was once again renamend to the Jókai Theatre. In the 60′s the facade frieze was demolished and the buidling become the Thalia.  Finally to be restored and resurrected in the 80′s as the Új Színház.

Currently the building is still quite striking and worth a look when you are in the neighborhood.

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