We will be in Budapest Aug 31-September 5th. I was hoping to go to the theater or listen to live music but I am not finding any shows at the Opera House of Liszt School during those dates. Any information would be helpful.
Perhaps Mr. É’s fairly comprehensive list will help.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/updated-budapest-performance-venue-list
You might be coming at just the wrong time, though.
Summer and in particular August is traditionally the time of year the theaters close to get ready for the next season. Why? No air conditioning of course (well most have it now, but tradition dies hard). Do take the Opera House tour, I think it’s well done. And if you are lucky with the dates do take the Liszt Academy tour. Also, worth the time.
Church Concerts:
4 September St. Stephen’s Friday Organ Concert https://www.organconcert.hu/hu/programok/
31 August & 4 September Matthias Church: Bach Haendel Mozart Pachebel Albinoni Vivaldi & 2 September St Michaels Church: Vivaldi The Four Seasons https://concertsinbudapest.com/
Opus Jazz Club
Concerts 2, 3, 4, 5 September. https://opusjazzclub.hu/koncertek Here you make a dinner reservation about an hour prior to the start of the concert. Good food, good jazz.
Spinoza
4 September Dinner and a Klezmer Concert https://spinoza-restaurant.hu/en/hir/minden-penteke-este-klezmer-koncert
Dinner & Gypsy Music
Several to choose from, but for a first I like: Rézkakas Bistro https://maps.app.goo.gl/csK9LEqC7DG2aG1M7
I wont tell you, so you must look.
2, 3,4 September: Probably not what you had in mind, but with music and singing and dancing and its fun: https://fovarosinagycirkusz.hu/mirazs/
Back to the air conditioning. When you take the tour of the Opera House, do note the huge chandelier in the center. https://www.opera.hu/media/images/_N5A9881_resize_9F3x.2e16d0ba.fill-1600x900.format-webp.webp It’s electric now, but at one time it was gas and it generated a lot of heat. Bad in the summer? No, by plan and device … good. Hot air rises. See the hole above the chandelier, that’s a chimney that extends through the roof https://www.hungarianconservative.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/mti_opera-scaled.jpg . Then look at the floor and you will see some vents below the seats. Hot air goes up and pulls air through the vents below the seats, and you have … well not air conditioning, but a constant flow of air for a little added comfort on a hot evening. Now you know something the guide doesn’t.
Thank you very much. Wonderful information. I didn't find anything like this with a google search. The circus looks great.
The Forum is better than Google. I love the circus here.
I will PM you some more info.
I feel really bad, I forgot to tell you about this. Something good every evening you are in town and no one I'd rather be with. https://www.zsidokulturalisfesztival.hu/programok-2026.