Yesterday I’d a great evening. I went to the The hundred gypsy violins orchestra. This is thefirst time I ever saw some thing like that. I absolutely enjoyed the performace. The second half of it was much better.

The “Budapest gypsy symphony orchestra”, in Hungarian “Szaztagú Cinanyzenekar” (100 – head Gypsy Orchestra) is the worlds largest gypsy symphony orchestra. It has been founded in 1985, when Sandor Jaroka, at the time Hungary’s most famous “primas” (gypsy soloist) died. All Hungarian gypsy musicians had come to his funeral. After the ceremony they begun to play. The orchestra had been born out of that improvised moment.

One of the most outstanding members of the orchestra is the cimbalom virtuoso Oszkar Ökrös. He is the best player of this instrument in the world.
The orchestra consists of 60 violins, 9 violas, 6 cellos, 10 double basses, 9 clarinets and 6 cimbaloms. The repertoire includes famous Hungarian and international Gypsy Music from Vittorio MONTI and Grigoras DINICU to classical pieces from Johannes BRAHMS, Georges BIZET, Aram KHATCHATOURIAN, Pablo de SARASATE, Johann STRAUSS.

More photos on Flickr Set:

More information about the orchestra is available on their website 100violins.com, and also some videos on YouTube 100 Violins Channel.