Hungarian, Mexican, and Korean-American musicians along with the orchestra of Quintana Roo’s Public Security Ministry presented outstanding works of Hungarian classical and mainstream music at the Hungarian Cultural Festival in Cancún. This three-night free event took place for the sixteenth time from June 19 to 21.
The festival, founded by Hungarian pianist Dr. Emőke Ujj, who resides in Cancún, was once again characterized by diversity in genres and generations. The carefully curated all-arts program spanned from classical Hungarian music to contemporary compositions, including folk dance, ballet, and visual arts, offering a rich cultural experience.
The opening gala at the Grand Hall of the Caribbean University featured a tribute to Katalin Karády, with performances by the festival’s founder, Korean-American pianist Heejung Kang, and Mexican singer Sonia M. Vela. On the second evening, works by Franz Liszt and Béla Bartók were performed by Dr. Emőke Ujj and Hungarian violinist Dezső Salasovics, who resides in Mexico alongside Mexican pianist Gerardo Estrada Gómez and young pianists from Cancún. A folk dance choreography set to Hungarian music was presented by Juan Jesús Bustos Islas and the Zarandearte Mexican dance ensemble. The closing event featured a ballet performance by dancers from the Cancún Ballet, accompanied by classical and popular music pieces performed by Dr. Emőke Ujj, Dezső Salasovics, and Gerardo Estrada Gómez, with collaboration of the Quintana Roo’s orchestra at the city’s Grand Theater.
