Andrea performs at her birthplace

Folk songs from Domahaza

Next weekend Andrea Gerak visits her birthplace Ozd in Hungary where she performs at a gala of the local folk dance association.

"I am very glad to take this invitation, because I have only been to Ozd a very few times: I was a little baby when we moved over to Kazincbarcika. When I was a teenager, I went to Ozd for swimming trainings when we didn't have a swimming pool yet in our city, two times to visit someone and last summer for a Takats Tamas Dirty Blues Band as part of the Borsod Arts Festival. I am especially happy about meeting the the traditional folk dance group of Domahaza, because their dances were amongst the first ones I learned when I was a young folk dancer." - Andrea

Place: Cultural Centre of Ozd "Olvaso" (Ozd, Gyar u. 4.)
Date & time: 25 April, Saturday 19:00
Music: Dobroda Band
Guest performers:
Traditional Folk Dance Group of Domahaza
Vadszilvak Folk Dance Group
Entry: 1000.-HUF

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Csango Farsang (Carnival) in Eger

Andrea Gerak's next public performance



Time: 14th February 18:00
Place: Vörösrák Restaurant, Eger, Kossuth Lajos street 12.

Program:

At 18:00 mass for Csango Hungarians of Magyarfalu (Gaiceana-Arini (RO) at Ferencesek Church, Kossuth Lajos street 10, celebrated by Rev. Robert Pogar (born in Magyarfalu)

After that, dinner with entertainment. Performers:

Pal Dsupin furulya, Laszlo Cergo Herczeg koboz, Kinga Saarossy actress, Andrea Gerak singer, Laura Iancu poet, Ciprian Pogar singing (Magyarfalu), Ilona Budau singing (Magyarfalu), Students of Farkas Ferenc Music School, Jozsef Budau & his wife dance (Magyarfalu), Budau Antal & his wife dance (Magyarfalu), Antal Csicso tells stories about the Csangos (Klezse).

Táncház (=Hungarian folk dance house), teaching songs

Fee: 3000.-HUF

Tickets:
+36/36/312814 or personally at Vörösrak Restaurant

Media partners:
Csango Tükör, MyMusic, Hirek Oldal, Day.hu, Zenesz.info, Freeblog, Folkradio, Dalok.hu, TV Eger, Zajlik, Blogter, Egri Vegvar, Hirfal, Propeller, Myspace

Human Rights Gala in Stockholm

On the 10th of December, the Sweden branch of Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI-S) presented an opportunity to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights with international artists.

Besides Master of Ceremony Samson Mande, European Human Rights Hero awardee, several renown human rights activists honored the event. Norsang Drikung, leader of Tibetan Community in Sweden and Dr. Elfatih Shora, member of International Rescue Nubia organization spoke about issues demanding solutions in their countries, while Stig Johnell from Amnesty International took up several situations worldwide, including Sweden.

Honorary guest speaker Mrs. Jacqueline Mukangira, Ambassador of Republic of Rwanda to Sweden and Nordic Countries highlighted the evening, who told stories of how her country has risen from genocide to a safe and prosperous land, setting a good example of finding constructive solutions to various problems.

The audience was entertained by a colorful concert of classical, pop and world music, dance from Africa, Asia, America and Europe. In the artist line-up, different ages, races, music styles and most of the continents were represented.

Latvian viola/piano duo Ineta & Milda Zigure gave the concert a very aesthetic opening. Mrs Sonoko Kase's students from Östermalm Private Music School performed Japanese children songs, piano and ballet pieces. Venezuelan born soprano Gabriela Gonzáles-Toledo, who is also an active lecturer in Latin American music and culture, entertained with beautiful opera and musical songs. Hungarian folk singer Andrea Gerak's choice of Romany National Anthem was perfect for the occasion and really hit home to the audience. Swedish singer-songwriter Mimmi Siegel sweetened the mood while rock singer Lizette& and Nsako Afrodans, a group performing tribal music and dance from Uganda broke the floor with high energy sounds and moves.

The attendees appreciated the international diversity, the very informative speeches, high artistic quality and the relaxed atmosphere of the gala. The event concluded with the participating representatives expressing their intentions to further co-operate in order to make human rights a reality.

More info

Media partners: FN Tudósító, Virtus, Kakukk.ro, Blogtér, Nordic Africa News, World Music Central, Beats.hu, SPRACI, Hangszer és Zene Online, MyMusic.hu

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Celebration of the 60th Anniversary for Human Rights

YHRI-Sweden celebrates 60 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948-2008).

"The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood."- Martin Luther King Jr.
"Make human rights a global reality and not just an idealistic dream." - L. Ron Hubbard

Theme: “DIGNITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL OF US”

The Sweden branch of Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI-S) presents an opportunity to celebrate the 60th anniversary for human rights.


The Declaration belongs to each and everyone of us – read it, teach it, promote it and claim it as your own.

The anniversary gala will include speeches from the youth, ambassadors, government officials and renown human rights activists from different parts of the world. The audience will as well be entertained by an interlude of a concert of hip hop, classical, pop and exotic music, dance from Africa, Asia, America and Europe.

ARTISTS:

Andrea Gerak
Gabriela Gonzáles-Toledo
Ineta & Milda Zigure
Lizette&
Mimmi Siegel
Students of Östermalm Private Music School
Nsako Afrodans

Where: Årsta Folketshus
Årsta Torg, Årsta centrum (Stockholm, Sweden)
When: 2008. 10/December 18:00
Doors open at 17:30
Entry: 100.-SEK/50.-SEK for young people under 15 (incl. refreshments)


Contact: Charlotte Scholz Tel: +46-8-912635, +46-765261444 charlotte_scholz{at}yahoo{dot}se

Media partners:
Cityguide.se, Eventful, Facebook, MySpace, Last.fm, Stockholmtown.com, Nordic Africa News, Music Industry News, Starpages

Sponsors: FINT &FÄRDIGT BYGG STOCKHOLM AB, Bättre Hälsa, Martin Ekwall Fotografi, Roseb AB, Performia AB, Comline Rekrytering

Photos from concert in Edelény

Andrea performed between Vujicsics Band and Hungarian Hurdy-gurdy Orchestra at the 8th Borsod Arts Festival, in Edelény (Northern Hungary)

Concerts in June

Andrea Gerak soon in her homeland Hungary again!

Public performances this month:

June 22 Sunday 20:00
Edelény, Borsodi Tájház
"Music of Hungarians from the Carpathian Basin""
Andrea will perform at the evening of Vujicsics Ensemble and Hungarian Hurdy-gurdy Orchestra
A Borsod Arts Festival program
Entrance fee: 800HUF

June 26 Thursday 19:00
Dubicsány, Fignár Festival Court
A Borsod Arts Festival program

Full calendar
Previous concerts

Csángó Night and Dance House

The Sweden-based Petrás Incze János Csángó Foundation is holding a charity event at the Hungarian House in Stockholm. All the benefit from the concert will go to support social and cultural needs of Csángó Hungarians in Moldva.

Time: 24th May 2008
Place: Magyar Ház - Ungerska Huset (Bromma, Lövåsvägen 12, Stora Mossen subway station, green line towards Hässelby) Map


15:00-17:00 dance house for children (Hungarian folk dances)
17:00-19:00 Csángó Night Concert
19:30- till about Midnight dance house for adults (Hungarian folk dances)

Entrance fee: adulsts 80.-SEK, children 30.-SEK

Excellent Hungarian, Japanese, Indian, Polish, Swedish and Latvian artists will perform at the concert of folk music and classical music:

● Barozda (Csongor Simó violin, Lajos Toró viola, József Simó double bass, hurdy-gurdy, koboz): traditional music from Transylvania and Moldva,

● Barna Both (piano) performs his own compositions ("The Little Prince" and "Nocturne"),
● Andrea Gerák Csángó folk songs from Moldva,

● Japanese students of Sonoko Kase play piano,
● Lakshmikanth (tabla, voice) and Saikira (indiai harmonium): classical Indian music,
● Magnus Smedman Band (Swedish bagpipe and hurdy-gurdy): Swedish folk music,
● Milda Zigure and Ineta Zigure Latvian artists (violin and piano)
● Kinga Práda Sagvik (flute),
● György Stuber (Hungarian bagpipe, Moldva Csángó bagpipe, hurdy-gurdy and flute): folk music from Transylvania and Moldva, first ever Csángó bagpipe stage performance in music history!,
● Zsuzsanna Gaal, Gabriella Dybowski, Thomas Svanfeldt és György Stuber Hungarian folk dances.

Dance house music will be played by Barozda and György Stuber.

Donations can be sent to Foundation Petrás Incze János Csángó Alapítvány (Postgiro: 636 25 57 – 8 Receiver: Csángó Fonden Petrás Incze János)

Thank you in the name of Csángós.

Our event is dedicated to commemorate the late Csángó musicians Gergely Mesterke (-2004), Péter Minuc (-2002), Mihály Dima(-2005, Petru Ghiurca bagpipers and János Zerkula (-2008) fiddler who visited Sweden in 2002

Contact: +46 8 254038
Magyar Ház (Hungarian House) in Stockholm

Asiye - Concert Video

Andrea Gerak presents a Turkish folk song at Budapest Fringe Festival, in her program Set Forth Along a Road. In the song, a boy sings about loosing his love, Asiye.

It wasn't easy to perform it acapella, in the middle of all the noise coming in from the other concerts...

Madárka - Little Birdie (Video)

Andrea Gerak singing a Hungarian folk song, improvising with Sandor Fekete-Kiss composer, at a concert in Hungary.
The original piece is almost 18 minutes long, this is the end part.
Last track from the album Árva az a madár - Lonely Is The Bird



Pictures: spring nature photos from Sweden.

Theme: Hungarian folk song from Moldva

Lyrics:
Madárka, madárka,
Áraszd meg a vizet,
Áraszd meg a vizet,
Hadd írjak levelet!

Apámnak s anyámnak,
Szűbeli mátkámnak,
Apámnak s anyámnak,
Szűbeli mátkámnak.

Music arrangement: Sandor Fekete-Kiss
Vocals: Andrea Gerak
Song recorded: live at Symmetry Festival Budapest, 2003
Photos, video: Andrea Gerak

Don't Fall Asleep - concert video

Andrea Gerak performing for a Christmas concert in Stockholm, 2006.



Credits

Theme: traditional Hungarian folk song
Arrangement, music production: Angel Oros (Cambridge 2003)
Musicians: Andrea Gerak - vocals, dance, Angel Oros - keyboards, Jose Aurelio Ferrandez - duduk, ney, Edgar Molina - percussions
Video: Jan Gustafsson (Enhancia)

From the album "Árva az a madár - Lonely Is The Bird"

Brugges Festival Photos

Andrea Gerak & Barozda performed for the Brugges Festival of World Music on 12/November/2006.
Read review here

Click on the picture to view gallery

Christmas concert photos - 2.

16th of December 2006, Stockholm, Arsta Folketshus

Andrea Gerak performing the song Don't Fall Asleep



















Video of this performance comes out soon!

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Christmas concert photos - 1.

16th of December 2006, Stockholm, Arsta Folketshus

Andrea Gerak performing: Árva az a madár - Lonely Is The Bird













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