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TRAVEL ADVENTURES:

The Eiffel Art Studios, the Hungarian State Opera's new complex has been officially opened

The Hungarian State Opera’s Eiffel Art Studios were officially opened in a celebration held on Monday with the attendance of President of the Republic János Áder and First Lady Anita Herczegh. The official grand opening also launched a new permanent exhibit entitled Műhely. Titkok. (Studios. Secrets.) in the workshop, warehouse, rehearsal, and training centre unique in all of Europe. Starting this weekend, Eiffel Art Studios will also be open for group visits.

In his commemorative speech, Gergely Gulyás, Minister heading the Prime Minister's Office, emphasised the fact that Eiffel Art Studios is the decade’s largest cultural development project in both Budapest and the entire country. The project that cost more than 33 billion HUF involved the renovation of more than 33,000 m2 of buildings and 3 hectares of the Studios’ parks. He explained that the significance of this cultural event lies in the fact that the opening of Eiffel Art Studios is not only a salute to the 200-year-old history of Hungarian opera culture and to Hungarian artists, but also serves to reinforce our own cultural identity.

Benedek Gyorgyevics, CEO of Városliget Zrt., conveyed the message of the Ministerial Commissioner responsible for the Opera investment project. In his message, László Baán urged us to start the era of nation-builders: we should dare to have plans and dreams for the future and create places where years from now future generations will feel at home, using it to write their own histories.

Szilveszter Ókovács, General Director of the Hungarian State Opera, emphasised that the building is much more than bricks and mortar. What he personally expects from the long-term, normal, and complex operations of the Opera’s Eiffel Art Studios, besides the material gains, is the extrapolation of human values, because that is what makes us better, more professional, more effective, and more memorable, using the strength of preparation, experimentation, and discovery.

All of the Opera’s artistic branches were represented at the celebratory program. Among others, the night included performances of the overture to Beethoven’s King Stephen, Act Two of Puccini’s opera La bohème, and Kodály’s Budavári Te Deum. The Hungarian National Ballet performed a choreography by András Lukács and Philip Glass entitled Whirling. A television recording has been made of the gala night, which is expected to be broadcast by the public channel M5.

After the gala night, Dr. Bence Rétvári, State Secretary for the Ministry of Human Capacities, proceeding on behalf of Dr. Miklós Kásler, presented a ministerial certificate of recognition to three Opera employees: Deputy Director Dr. Virág Főző, the builder and chief architect Anka Józsa, and Procurement Department Manager Dr. Kiss Dóra, whose selfless work made Eiffel Art Studios possible. MTI photo reporter Zoltán Máthé was also awarded a ministerial certificate of recognition for his unparalleled work in preserving the building’s railway-related past.

Before the ceremony, Eiffel Art Studios’ new permanent exhibition entitled Studios. Secrets. was opened, which provides a glimpse of life behind the scenes at the Hungarian State Opera and the work of the people who make it happen. The exhibit provides a monument to the history of Hungarian opera sets through the lives of 12 of the Opera’s visual designers in the installations placed on the first floor Podmaniczky Terrace and the adjoining hallways, modelled after Wagner’s Ring Tetralogy (visual designer: Gergely Z Zöldy). The exhibit contains videos, animations, photographs, and costumes recreated in the production units, compiled by curator Márton Karczag, head of the Hungarian State Opera’s Memorial Collection, providing an overview of the work of famous designers such as Ágoston Spannraft, Jenő Kéméndy, Count Miklós Bánffy, László Márkus, Gusztáv Oláh, Tivadar Márk, Gábor Forray, Attila Csikós, Judit Schäffer, and Nelly Vágó.

The parts of the Studios. Secrets. exhibition found on Eiffel Art Studios’ Podmaniczky Terrace can be viewed by guests who purchase tickets to any performance; the remainder is available for participates of the guided EiffelTour starting from 30 October 2021. The 30-minute tours of the building start at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, leading guests through the first-floor hallways and Eiffel Art Studios’ indoor rooms, providing a chance to see the facility’s workshops. In addition to the Studios. Secrets. exhibition, the regular tours extend to Eiffel Art Studios’ railway past and a mini exhibit of the works of János Feketeházy, the designer of the building, compiled by the Hungarian Museum of Science, Technology and Transport and a short film showcasing the construction of Eiffel Art Studios. In addition to the building tours, the Studios also offer 60-minute workshop tours at scheduled times on weekdays and weekends, which provides a better look at life in the workshops.

Simultaneously to the grand opening of Eiffel Art Studios, the Opera is also releasing a 470-page album of the project, entitled Utolsóból első, így készült az Opera Eiffel Műhelyháza (From Last to First: Construction of the Opera’s Eiffel Art Studios). The volume contains a multitude of pictures, interviews with the persons responsible for the building, industrial history-related documents, and articles on the building’s future.

The phone booth, called Múltfülke (Past Booth) located in Eiffel Art Studios’ Locomotive Hall is also a new service launched with the opening of Eiffel Art Studios: the phone booth provides visitors with a chance to listen to one-minute broadcasts of the NapiOpera (Daily Opera) programme aired between 2016 and 2019, on their respective anniversaries. Using the phone dial, visitors can listen to the material from any day of the year or the news items for the given day.

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BRIGHT HOLIDAYS ON THE SANTA BARBARA TROLLEY

holly

Each holdiday season locals and tourists thoroughly enjoy taaking a tour on the Santa Barbara Trolley, which travels along a route to view important places of the city's history, with a stop at the historic Santa Barbara Mission.

Santa Barbara Mission

Historical tour guide Jay B. Van Meter, who specializes in Step On Guide Services for Tour Bus Groups says "Santa Barbara is rich in history and beauty. Let me show you," and he does an amazing job. I recently tooik Jay's tour and was amazed at all the historic details he shared that i never knew and the tourists on the tour with me loved all the helpful information. Sad I never treated myself to this great opportunity to learn sooner.

Historic Tour Guide Jay B. Van Meter

It was fun to hear that Jay had taken Late Night Host Jimmy Kimmel and his whole family on a group tour and how much he enjoyed meeting Jimmy and sharing the history of Santa  Barbara with his family on a private tour created just for them.

Sant Barbara Maritime Museum - Santa Barbara Harbor

As Christmas arrives the Trolley of Lights Dec 8 - Dec 21 will become a magical journey to view all the wonderful decorations from Santa Barbara to Montecito and the trolley is decorated, with holiday music playing. Locals love taking this fun ride, as well as visitors to our city. Visit: www.sbtrolley.com or call 805-965-0353 fo reservations. Hurry, they are booking up! For reservation information on group tours please visit www.santabarbaratrolley.com and ask for Jay B. Van Meter.

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THE SANTA BARBARA SYMPHONY AT THE GRANADA THEATRE

holly New Year's Eve              December 31st

Fandago Picante, Nir Kabaretti         Jan 15, 7:00, Jan 16 3:00

Beethoven in Bloom, Nir Kabaretti    Feb 19, 7:00 - 20, 3:00

Sonic Boom, Nir Kabaretti    Mar 19, 7:00 - 20, 3:00

Romance in a Key, Nir Kabaretti  Apr 23, 7:00 - 24, 3:00

Riffing on Gershwin,    May 21, 7:00 - 22, 3:00

The Santa Barbara Symphony

1214 State Street, Santa Barbara CA

www.granadasb.org

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NEED TO KNOW TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO SPAIN:

https://travelsafe.spain.info/en/before/

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SOUTHWEST AIRLINES & ALASKA AIRLINES

Look for great deals with Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines going into the new year. Santa Barbara Airport is now offering new flights to additional destinations, as well as American Airlines. Check out the new direct flights for patron convenience.

Smaller airlines along the Cenral Coast are now offering convenient direct flights. Check out their new destinations and airlines to serve you.

www.sba.org

BUSES are traveling to LAX airport from Central Coast Destinations.

See Santa Barbara Airbus Schedule

Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpenteria

www.airbus.com


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© 2008 Bonnie Carroll, All Rights Reserved