From Zoltan Siposedgi from Budapest – Italian Edition: Cristiano Tassinari
Published on 11.08.2023 – 11:16•Last update 12:49
“We want to return to its pre-pandemic glory,” says festival organizer Sziget in Budapest, 30 years after its debut. Until mid-August, 1000 performances including classical, pop, rock, jazz and theatrical music. 90,000 spectators every day: one of the most impressive musical events in Europe
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY) – “Island of Freedom” in the middle of the Danube is back.
ADVERTISINGThey come from all over the world to take part in “Sziget Festival“, one of the most important musical events in Europe, kicked off on Thursday, August 10, in Budapest.
Appointment on the island Obuda (“Old Budapest”, also known as Hayogyarifrom the name of the ancient shipping company).
An isolated “city” of 76 hectares with a daily capacity of 90,000 people.
Until August 15, shows will range from pop to rock, from jazz to classical music, all the way to theater.
Euronews correspondent in Hungary explains, Zoltan Shiposegi:
“The entrance to the island festival K-Bridge is finally filled with people. 50 scenes, more than 1000 concerts. This is what awaits us in the coming days.”
A self-proclaimed “island of freedom,” Sziget Festival is trying to restore its pre-pandemic splendor with performances by artists from 62 countries: celebrities such as Billie Eilish, Imagine Dragons, Florence and The Machine, Mumford & Sons. and New Zealand singer Lord.
“The first time you come here, you realize that you can be anyone. And today I am an absolute star!” she says. Willa Finnish girl who is clearly passionate about the festival, with a sunglasses model that did not go unnoticed.
Sziget means “island” in Hungarian: “Sziget Festival” in 2012 and 2015 was voted the best festival in Europe by the European Festival Awards.
“We are trying to restore the spirit that we had before the pandemic,” he explained. Tamas Kadarthe main organizer of the event, which in 2020 and 2021 was canceled due to Covid.
Founded in 1993, with only Hungarian artists and only 43,000 spectators, “Sziget Festival“we would have reached the 30th issue of the publication, but officially there are 28 of them, precisely because of the missed two years.
In 2022 there were 450,000 spectators. And for this edition, it can reach half a million viewers from 100 countries!
The audience record since 2018 is 565,000 viewers.
“The festival? It’s not about music, not about people, not about energy, not even about alcohol and not about parties. It’s all about one point, one island. The island of freedom,” explains the French boy, whose “artistic nickname” – he says. – is Zeke…