Every August, the picturesque Tokaj Foothills (Tokaj-Hegyalja) and Zemplén Mountains (Zemplén) become home to Hungary’s largest and most diverse cultural festival. The Zemplén Festival is a ten-day celebration that captivates art lovers, hikers, foodies, wine connoisseurs, families, and anyone seeking a quality escape. Classical concerts, jazz, theater, literary evenings, exhibitions, hikes, tastings, and family-friendly events are rolled into one multifaceted explosion of culture, attracting locals as well as visitors from afar.
Opening Night: Romantic Classics and Bartók’s Masterpiece
The festival opens on August 8 at Sárospatak Castle (Sárospataki vár), where Dmitry Yudin, runner-up of New York’s Liszt International Piano Competition, takes on Tchaikovsky’s stormy Piano Concerto in B-flat minor—once famously rejected by its intended performer, Nikolai Rubinstein. Although Rubinstein initially dismissed the piece, it eventually soared to success across Europe and Russia. The evening continues with Bartók’s iconic Concerto, written during his difficult years in America. Conductor Gábor Hollerung, for whom this piece represents a milestone, leads the Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra through music that moves from gravity and grief to affirmation, with Bartók himself describing its spirited finale as life-affirming. An authentic wine tasting from the festival’s official supplier enlivens the intermission.
Jazz, Melancholy, and Melodies Under the Stars
Jazz vocalist Orsi Sapszon (Sapszon Orsi) and her talented band enchant the Disznókő Estate (Disznókő Birtok) in Mezőzombor on August 9. Bringing classics to life with fresh emotion, Orsi—who began in classical choirs before making her mark in pop and jazz—delivers nostalgic Hungarian songs from her solo album “Találkozás” (Encounter), transporting the audience into a gently melancholic soundscape.
Later that evening, in the Courtyard of the Town Hall (Városháza udvara) in Sátoraljaújhely, “Summer Evening Serenade” (“Nyáresti szerenád”) rings out with Mozart’s Serenata notturna, the witty and melodic Horn Concerto (full of inside jokes for the horn player), and plenty of party-like verve. The night culminates with Schubert’s 6th Symphony, where Mozart’s charm, Haydn’s elegance, Beethoven’s passion, and Rossini’s theatricality come together. The featured soloist is Zoltán Mácsai, principal horn of the Dresden Staatskapelle.
Theater, Genius, and Summer Sounds
On August 10, the Cultural Center (Művelődési Központ) in Sátoraljaújhely hosts the special show “Fate Arranged the Meeting” (“Találkát adott a sors”). Celebrated actor Petra Gubik and pianist János Balázs blend stories and music, conjuring the turbulent life of György Cziffra, with reflections on destiny, friendship, and the lessons the legendary pianist can teach.
That same night, Szerencs’ Rákóczi Castle Courtyard (Rákóczi-vár udvara) presents “Summertime,” blending Mozart’s brooding D-minor concerto and Apor Szüts’s orchestral suite based on Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Pianist-composer-conductor Apor Szüts leads, performing and guiding the orchestra through both jazz and classical realms in bold new arrangements.
Opera, Comedy, and Timeless Virtuosity
Meanwhile, at Sárospatak’s Sports Center (Sportcsarnok), “The Women of Giacomo” (“Le donne di Giacomo”) stages a vibrant musical-theater show, delving into Puccini’s legendary—and complicated—relationship with women, channeling iconic heroines like Mimi, Tosca, and Turandot in a surreal journey through the composer’s imagination.
A highlight on August 11 is Woody Allen’s new play “A Brooklyn Tale” (“Brooklyni mese”) at the Sárospatak Culture House (Művelődés Háza). The fast-paced comedy, set during the global pandemic, focuses on a gangster, a stolen Raphael painting, and the quirky effects a masterpiece has on its new (not-so-rightful) owners. This Hungarian-language world premiere is accompanied by live jazz from The Brooklyn Trio.
Workshops, Literary Walks, and Outstanding Quartets
August 12 brings unique events: a women’s beauty workshop and a string concert by the Trüffel Quartet at Helia-D Herba Castle (Herba-kastély) in Tolcsva, featuring everything from Elgar’s “Salut d’amour” to music from The Godfather and ABBA. That evening, “Jókai Promenade 200” (“Jókai sétány 200”) at the Museum of the Hungarian Language (Magyar Nyelv Múzeuma) in Széphalom guides guests through the iconic storyteller’s musically eccentric life, starring literary historian Krisztián Nyáry and actress Kata Bach.
Folk, Jazz, and the Flavors of Zemplén
The following days are just as full: Koszika and the Péter Sárik Trio (Sárik Péter Trió) blend jazz and folk on the castle terrace in Újhuta. Jazz sensation Nikoletta Szőke, a Montreux winner, brings her unique touch to classic Hungarian favorites at the Andrássy Mansion (Andrássy-kúria) in Tarcal.
On August 14, folk legend Mika Heinczinger delivers poetic songs about immortality, and in the evening, the renowned Csík Band (Csík Zenekar) stirs up a blend of classic and contemporary folk music at the Grand Tokaj Winery (Grand Tokaj pincészet) in Szegi, with stunning views from the hills and locally produced wine.
Chamber Music, Whistling Legends, and Grand Finales
Don’t miss the innovative BDZ Chamber Ensemble on August 14, reimagining works by Mozart, Mendelssohn, Lutosławski, Piazzolla, and Gershwin in the atmospheric Reformed College Chapel (Református Kollégium kápolnája) in Sárospatak.
On August 15, the quirky “Time Travel” (“Időutazás”) at Patricius Winery (Patricius Borház) in Bodrogkisfalud features whistling virtuoso Tamás Hacki and pianist-composer Péter Wolf, blending East and West, history, and humor. Finally, on August 17, the Liszt Ferenc Chamber Orchestra closes the festival at Sárospatak Castle with works by Marcello, Mendelssohn, and Dvořák—a fitting finale to a festival that truly celebrates the best of Hungarian culture.
