Is the Hungarian National Male Choir (formerly known as the Honvéd Male Choir) made up of soldiers?

No, the Hungarian National Male Choir is not a military choir, although it is supported by the Ministry of Defence, among others. It is made up of more than forty civil singers. The name 'Honvéd Male Choir' is a reminder of the past, which the institution has proudly claimed as its own for 75 years. The male choir, originally formed in 1949 as the Choir of the Honvéd Central Art Ensemble, took the name Honvéd Male Choir after the change of regime, but its members are not soldiers but professional singers.

Why has the name "Honvéd" been retained?

Tradition and continuity play a major role in the life and artistic work of the Honvéd Male Choir. Over the more than seven decades of its existence, the choir has achieved the national and international recognition and professional excellence that is the hallmark of the contemporary choir. As a name, the Honvéd Male Choir has a strong identity, and its current representatives owe a debt of respect to the circumstances of its birth and its founding members. From 2024, the choir will continue its artistic work under the name of the Hungarian National Male Choir, which is closer to its profile and goals.

What does "professional male choir" mean?

This means that the members of the Hungarian National Male Choir are professional singers, and singing in the choir is their main occupation. Another special feature is that there are very few professional male choirs of this size in the world. In Europe, apart from our country, Estonia and Russia have such artistic institutions.

How does the Hungarian National Male Choir work in everyday life?

The main task of a professional choir is twofold: on the one hand, to keep the repertoire (which is very important for the Hungarian National Male Choir) up to date, and on the other hand, to perform new tasks, to learn new programs, operas, oratorios, crossover and other works. Morning and afternoon solo and full rehearsals, weekday and weekend performances, various concerts and performances of the orchestra's own repertoire, as well as appearances at protocol events are all part of the daily work.

What are the protocol appearances of the Hungarian National Male Choir?

These are the shows which the Hungarian National Male Choir performs at various state ceremonies and those organised by the supporting ministries, raising the standard of the event or state-level event with its artistic program. These appearances are not usually open to the general public.

Who were the Hungarian National Male Choir’s conductors?

Lajos Vass, József Maklári, István Kis, Béla Pődör, István Zámbó, András Tóth, Péter Pálinkás, Péter Drucker, Kálmán Strausz. The choir is currently led by Richárd Riederauer.

Where does the Hungarian National Male Choir rehearse?

The rehearsal halls and the headquarters of the Hungarian National Male Choir are located on the first floor of building 'A', Kerepesi út 29/b, 1087 Budapest. When the choir rehearses according to the general schedule, the daily work takes place here.

Where can you hear the Hungarian National Male Choir most often?

The Hungarian National Male Choir gives concerts every year, and has become a traditional participant in productions of the Hungarian State Opera, the Erkel Theatre and the National Theatre. The venue of the annual regular season ticket series is the Pesti Vigadó. In addition, the Male Choir is a regular participant in the most prestigious music festivals and celebrations, on the largest open-air stages such as the Liszt Academy or the Palace of Arts.

In which countries has the Hungarian National Male Choir toured?

The Hungarian National Male Choir (still known as the Honvéd Male Choir) has performed in over 50 countries on four continents, and the number of performances is approaching 30,000.

What kind of requests does the Hungarian National Male Choir respond to?

The range of events, performances and concerts is almost endless. Opera houses, theatres, national and international festivals, town days, school music events are all part of the program. The 'Interactive Singing Lessons' series brings classical music into primary and secondary schools, having reached nearly 10,000 children so far.

What awards have been given to the Hungarian National Male Choir so far?

The Hungarian National Male Choir (still known as the Honvéd Male Choir) has won the Prima Primissima Award, the Bartók-Pásztory Award and the Hungarian Heritage Award twice: once as part of the Honvéd ensemble and again independently in 2013. They were also awarded the prestigious Academie Charles Cros Grand Prix du Disque.

How can I contact the Hungarian National Male Choir?

By letter: Honvéd Male Choir, 29/b Kerepesi út, Budapest, 1087.
By email: ferfikar@honvedart.hu
On our Facebook page: facebook.com/hferfikar

How can I find out about the events of the Hungarian National Male Choir?

There are several ways to do this. You can find the latest information on the Male Choir’s website, as well as on our social media pages. And if you want to be directly informed about the Hungarian National Male Choir’s concerts, theatre performances and other news from around the house, you can subscribe to our newsletter.

How can I buy a ticket or a season ticket?

Season tickets and ticket requests for self-organised productions are always on sale at the venue. However, if you want to be sure, please send your ticket or season ticket request to ferfikar@honvedart.hu

How can I apply for an audition?

The Hungarian National Male Choir regularly holds auditions, not only on pre-announced dates, but also depending on the applications. Candidates are kindly requested to send their application by email, accompanied by a CV! All applicants will be informed of the dates of the interviews.