Being the 2023 European Capital of Culture offers a unique opportunity to promote the Bakony-Balaton region as a European creative and cultural centre; with Veszprém as its centre. It also provides, through InterUrban, a European, if not a world stage for the cultural riches of Veszprém’s fellow UNESCO City of Music cities and its sister cities around the globe.

The 29 featured InterUrban cities will rotate every two weeks (see calendar below). The seventh city presented in the programme will be fellow UNESCO City of Music Bologna, Italy. Bologna’s tenure will last 10-23 April. Featured performers and artists include the Bologna Bridge Band, Nefresh Trio, and Savana Funk; as well as a lecture on the History of Bologna, an Italian Cooking Class and a documentary film screening of ‘The Young Revolutionary - Paolo Pasolini’s Life in Bologna’.

“Although Veszprém was awarded the 2023 European Capital of Culture title only three years ago, due to its international and European importance it has been clearly visible on the world map for much longer. Its music festivals, well-known on the European scene, and its focus on music also helped the city to receive another prestigious recognition as a UNESCO City of Music in 2019. Ten UNESCO Cities of Music are taking part in InterUrban - from Hamamatsu to Seville to Kingston. Veszprém and the region will become more familiar with the distant cities that have been providing musical examples to the world for years; as Veszprém is also an example to them. InterUrban will help performers from the selected cities and the Veszprém-Balaton region to develop creative ideas and musical strategies during each visiting city’s two-week residence in the region”, says Anna Isola, International Project Advisor, Hangvető.

All the programme is attached to this news.

Italian Cooking Class
If it's Bologna, then of course it's Pasta Bolognese; which is actually just a small, albeit undoubtedly delicious, bite of the city from its exciting and irresistible menu. Bologna is the birthplace of world-famous premium ingredients such as fresh tagliatelle; real, millstone sized Parmigiano Reggiano; Aceto Balsamico, i.e. Balsamic Vinegar of Modena; and the classic trio of Parma hams: red Bologna, scholar Bologna and fat Bologna. A person from Bologna can not only eat, but can also cook. Join a rare opportunity to prepare a real three-course Bolognese menu: tortellini in brodo, tagliatelle al ragú alla Bolognese and finally torta di riso under the guidance of Italian chef Moreno Contin. Of course, we don't just make it, we also eat it! Hello Chef!

Straight from the streets of Bologna, the explosive brass ensemble Bologna Bridge Band comes to Veszprém with their mix of funk, soul, hip-hop and analogue techno that is going make you bounce. You get all the benefits of training and music in one: a heady mix of endorphin and dopamine. They follow the New Orleans tradition of brass music - best enjoyed in company, at group rituals and first and foremost: while dancing.

Dress light and wear comfy shoes. The NefEsh Trio are soul and fire, layers of Jewish and Eastern tradition, deeply resonating and freely meandering strings - this is NefEsh. The name comes from two Hebrew words: Nefesh - soul, and Esh - fire, and stands to signify centuries of musical heritage: klezmer, Sephardic, Yemenite and Israeli.

The classically trained trio venture still further to weave in Arab and Balkan influences, with jazz and tango emerging from the rich musical texture. The resulting music transports the listener across continents and centuries, from an ornate synagogue to a smoky café, from sacred trance to sensual rhythms. This concert will be special for many reasons: it will happen on the very same days as Easter and Passover: two celebrations that share the idea of a rebirth and are symbols of peace.

Pier Paolo Pasolini had a close connection with Bologna.
The city played an important role in shaping his artistic vision. He taught at the University of Bologna; worked closely with local artists and intellectuals; was passionately immersed in the visual arts, cinema, and theatre; and took refuge in left-wing activism as he fought against the fascism that surrounded him. To mark the 100th anniversary of the controversial director's birth, the documentary ‘Il giovane corsaro – Pasolini da Bologna’ explores Pasolini's relationship with the city which was his home for many years, and which he criticized so severely.

Through reminiscences, film clips, and a unique research project, the documentary provides a comparison of the past and present faces of the city; delving deeper into Pasolini's personality, the city's past, and their shared heritage. This documentary is a real treat not only for documentary fans but also anyone interested in the life and works of Pasolini and the cultural history of Bologna.

The History of Bologna is full of excitement, twists and turns - and secrets. Unlike other Italian cities, it has not one, but three nicknames: Scientist Bologna, Red Bologna and Fat Bologna. Everyone at our cooking course knows why it is ‘fat’! ItalianHungarian Prof. Stefano Bottoni introduces us to facets of the city, such as Italian Fascism, Communism, and memories of the former Eastern Bloc.

Prof. Bottoni is equally at home at the Hungarian Academy of Science as the University of Florence and researches and publishes in six languages. Catch a true historian-pop star - it would be a shame to miss it. Meet the afro-sporting funk trio Savana Funk from Bologna combining the Italian sense of style with the energy of Black music.

The skilled fusion of funk, blues, psychedelic rock and jazz seasoned with West-African rhythms feels as natural as the music you didn't know you were missing. Savana Funk are the kind of band who stay to jam for hours after a gig, and record albums live to analog tape.

Don't miss the sense-awakening blend from Bologna. The Italian Cooking Class and Paolo Pasolini film screening are made possible with the kind support of the Italian Cultural Institute.