The audience
Me improvising
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Concert in the Kiosk
I had the first concert in the kiosk - Quisque - at Miradouro de Săo Pedro de Alcântara. It was planned for weeks that I can play there but it actually it happaned Today. Frederico told Vasco, Vasco told Lius and Nuno that I would play there. Luis and Nuno are two brothers who are running this place at Bairo alto, one street from our home. It is an amazing place in Lisbon you can see Lisbon view, the castle, Se Cathedral. There is a fontain at the middle of the square like in Dolce Vita (Fellini's movie). The weather was very much windy. Luis and Nuno managed to get an amplifier with a mike for me. It went fine. The owners of the
Me, looking around before the concert. I liked the view very much. I enjoyed the place and liked the fact that I can actually play here!
This is what you see from Miradouro de Săo Pedro de Alcântara around 18.00. Most beautifull view, isn't it?
Playing at the kiosk
View around 19.00h
Luis told me that some of his friends were joking with him that he invites to play a Hungarian guitarist when there is Portugal-Hungary football match - what if Hungary will win? I told him that Portugal will win - Hungary has the worst football team of the world. And I was right.
And a bit later - it was a pleasure to me playing there! Lisbon is so fantastic!
I was playing Bela Bartok's pieces as well - transcriptions from "For Children" that was originally composed for piano.
Today I went to the lavandria. It was a nice and sunny Saturday morning. Was not that windy as it usually is.
Me, looking around before the concert. I liked the view very much. I enjoyed the place and liked the fact that I can actually play here!
This is what you see from Miradouro de Săo Pedro de Alcântara around 18.00. Most beautifull view, isn't it?
Playing at the kiosk
View around 19.00h
Luis told me that some of his friends were joking with him that he invites to play a Hungarian guitarist when there is Portugal-Hungary football match - what if Hungary will win? I told him that Portugal will win - Hungary has the worst football team of the world. And I was right.
And a bit later - it was a pleasure to me playing there! Lisbon is so fantastic!
I was playing Bela Bartok's pieces as well - transcriptions from "For Children" that was originally composed for piano.
Today I went to the lavandria. It was a nice and sunny Saturday morning. Was not that windy as it usually is.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Concert in Elvas
I had my concert in Elvas on this Thursday. There was a "problem" there that effected to my concert as well and was a terrible story in itself... A boy from the school died in a motorbike accident this week and had his funeral on the day when I did my concert there... It was in the auditorio - which was an amphiteatrum-like hall.
There were mainly teachers on my concert because of the funeral- Pedro told me that they liked it very much. I hope it was like that...
He is Pedro our friend. We stayed at his place for a night and had a great chat and dinner together with him.
I gave my demo stuffs to the local centro cultural (cultural centre) in Elvas as well as at all the other places where I go to. But they have already schudeled their music festival for this October! Maybe next time!
We stopped at a "monument" that is the saint phallus. (Not a joke - seriously!) What a nice one!!!
Then the way back to Lisbon we stopped at Villa Vicosa. The city of marbles. There are lot of marble around there.
Then we stopped to drink a cofe in Evora where I will play on 26th October.
We stopped at Monsaraz where I talked to a guy is running an amazing venture called Sem-Fim where they are doing concerts, private parties etc. 2 hours later he gave me a call to play there in November! He was so nice!
And it seems that I will play in Fabula Urbis in November in Lisbon. And the other great thing is that we are negotiate with Lorinha organisers to play there too!
So everything is on the right way - I am just so tired. I drove 6 hours Today - and it was to much for me....
There were mainly teachers on my concert because of the funeral- Pedro told me that they liked it very much. I hope it was like that...
He is Pedro our friend. We stayed at his place for a night and had a great chat and dinner together with him.
I gave my demo stuffs to the local centro cultural (cultural centre) in Elvas as well as at all the other places where I go to. But they have already schudeled their music festival for this October! Maybe next time!
We stopped at a "monument" that is the saint phallus. (Not a joke - seriously!) What a nice one!!!
Then the way back to Lisbon we stopped at Villa Vicosa. The city of marbles. There are lot of marble around there.
Then we stopped to drink a cofe in Evora where I will play on 26th October.
We stopped at Monsaraz where I talked to a guy is running an amazing venture called Sem-Fim where they are doing concerts, private parties etc. 2 hours later he gave me a call to play there in November! He was so nice!
And it seems that I will play in Fabula Urbis in November in Lisbon. And the other great thing is that we are negotiate with Lorinha organisers to play there too!
So everything is on the right way - I am just so tired. I drove 6 hours Today - and it was to much for me....
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Concerts in Portugal
I had couple of very good and succesfull meetings Today. I'll play in LX Factory's open day on 23rd of October. The concert will be in the bookshop's galery. Amazing place for a concert!! I'll play at midnight... Then I went to Casa de Lafões with André checking the place, stage etc. for the Sunday concert that we will do with other three guys. They will play rock, jazz and folk, me - classical guitar - guitarra clássica... Amazing place as well. Like in South-America. That is basically a cultural centre - but the concert hall looks like a big flat and it is on the first floor view to the Rua Madalena.
Then I went to Fábrica do Braço de Prata meeting with the concert organiser lady. She told me the best feedbacks I got in Portugal. She told me that lots of people told her to invite me for a concert so "you must have lots of fans! Lisbon was waiting for you!" - she said. Which means that all the boys and girls who told me that they would help me they really did and talked to the cultural organisers. I love it.
Someone has stolen our GPS from the car during the night couple of days ago breaking the window at the backseat. It was a bad experience... But we got a car repair service 50 meter from home and they fixed it for a very much reasonable price. We got a problem in the bathroom as well and an old lady in the house called a guy to fix it - for free. But we gave him a bottle of great Hungarian wine. He was grateful but we were grateful so much for his help...
We did a journey around in Portugal last week and we went to Spain as well for two days staying in Sevilla at a nice family's flat. Sevilla is unbelievable, elegant and rich - but I prefer Lisbon.
Before we got to Sevilla we were in Sines and in Lagos in Portugal. In Sines there was a huge and enormous fog which is very extraordinary there during the fall. It happens in the winter more often but very rarely in the fall. It was like in a Tarkovskij movie... I found a music centre where I gave my demo stuffs - dvd and brochure - to a lady who promised me that she would give them to the cultural organisers - organizador cultural. And if they need me that will give me a call.
Me walking during the foggy and mystical night in Sines...
In Lagos we were staying at a lady's house called Fatima who was a teacher of Portuguese literature and French language and litareature. We were talking about literature a lot and figured out that she was a fan of Paul Auster just like me. She had couple of books with Auster's signatures. She met him personally! She is a fan of Sandor Marai - me not. She was also very educated in Russian and Checz literautre. Me too. I was looking for a cultural centre - centro cultural - in Lagos and finally found it. We even had the GPS at that time... But the organiser lady was in vacation so I gave my demo stuffs to the receptionist lady. To way back to Lisbon we stopped at Tavaria which was magical as well. Had a fantastic lunch there...
Last week when we were running around like idiots I did not focus on practising. And my level of playing decreased a lot. Which always gives a bad mood for me... But in the last couple of days I practised on a very focused way so it got better.
There is only one but very important thing that I could not solve yet here in Portugal: sporting. I could run at the sea shore in Caparica twice and I found great gyms but they are very complicated and burocratic - so I could even buy a ticket to do fitness - or they are so expensive. I have a pain in my back because of prastising and driving. I hope it will be sorted out somehow in the future...
It is too late so I go to bed - I'll play in Elvas in a Secondary school. Elvas is a marvellous city as well - according to the pictures found on the Net.
Then I went to Fábrica do Braço de Prata meeting with the concert organiser lady. She told me the best feedbacks I got in Portugal. She told me that lots of people told her to invite me for a concert so "you must have lots of fans! Lisbon was waiting for you!" - she said. Which means that all the boys and girls who told me that they would help me they really did and talked to the cultural organisers. I love it.
Someone has stolen our GPS from the car during the night couple of days ago breaking the window at the backseat. It was a bad experience... But we got a car repair service 50 meter from home and they fixed it for a very much reasonable price. We got a problem in the bathroom as well and an old lady in the house called a guy to fix it - for free. But we gave him a bottle of great Hungarian wine. He was grateful but we were grateful so much for his help...
We did a journey around in Portugal last week and we went to Spain as well for two days staying in Sevilla at a nice family's flat. Sevilla is unbelievable, elegant and rich - but I prefer Lisbon.
Before we got to Sevilla we were in Sines and in Lagos in Portugal. In Sines there was a huge and enormous fog which is very extraordinary there during the fall. It happens in the winter more often but very rarely in the fall. It was like in a Tarkovskij movie... I found a music centre where I gave my demo stuffs - dvd and brochure - to a lady who promised me that she would give them to the cultural organisers - organizador cultural. And if they need me that will give me a call.
Me walking during the foggy and mystical night in Sines...
In Lagos we were staying at a lady's house called Fatima who was a teacher of Portuguese literature and French language and litareature. We were talking about literature a lot and figured out that she was a fan of Paul Auster just like me. She had couple of books with Auster's signatures. She met him personally! She is a fan of Sandor Marai - me not. She was also very educated in Russian and Checz literautre. Me too. I was looking for a cultural centre - centro cultural - in Lagos and finally found it. We even had the GPS at that time... But the organiser lady was in vacation so I gave my demo stuffs to the receptionist lady. To way back to Lisbon we stopped at Tavaria which was magical as well. Had a fantastic lunch there...
Last week when we were running around like idiots I did not focus on practising. And my level of playing decreased a lot. Which always gives a bad mood for me... But in the last couple of days I practised on a very focused way so it got better.
There is only one but very important thing that I could not solve yet here in Portugal: sporting. I could run at the sea shore in Caparica twice and I found great gyms but they are very complicated and burocratic - so I could even buy a ticket to do fitness - or they are so expensive. I have a pain in my back because of prastising and driving. I hope it will be sorted out somehow in the future...
It is too late so I go to bed - I'll play in Elvas in a Secondary school. Elvas is a marvellous city as well - according to the pictures found on the Net.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
Running around in Portugal
We are running around in the south. We were in Sines at Rui's appartement and then in Lagos at Fatima's flat. Now we go to Sevilla.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Dinner
We had a dinner and party in our flat Yesterday with our Portuguese friends Rui, Antonio, Paulo, a Brittish guy called James. And some Hungarians came as well - Barbi, Kinga and Gyuri.
I was cooking for hours and of course I Played on my guitar and others did.
I cooked lots of stuffs. 'Lecso' as well.
I was cooking for hours and of course I Played on my guitar and others did.
I cooked lots of stuffs. 'Lecso' as well.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Setubal Newspaper
From the local newspaper
And the article from Setubalense (local newspaper)
And the kids
And the article from Setubalense (local newspaper)
And the kids
Monday, September 28, 2009
Setubal
We arrived to Portugal on 20th September. I was so scared that I was not going to have that much concerts as I usually do in Central-Eastern-Europe. (When I say "we" I speak about my wife, our daughter, Manuella and myself.) And now I am so tired I have so much concerts here. Portuguese people are so culturally active that is unbelievable to me.
Today I played in Setubal, a very nice city approx. 50 km from Lisbon. This was my first school concert in Portugal. I played twice for two group of kids (50 kids). Around 45 minutes for each group. I played Tarrega, Villa-Lobos - latin repertoir. And of cours Bela Bartok's pieces. Kids were around 15-16 years old and totally open-minded and brave to ask me about art, my life, repertoir my thinking about art, music, why I'm doing this etc. They were very much intelligent. And actually they started to ask me on their own without any teacher pressure. Maria Joao Reis organised me these two concert and I am very thankful to her. And I got a great bottle of wine too!
They published a short article about me in the local Setubal paper called Setubalense.
Pictures by Maria Joao
Today I played in Setubal, a very nice city approx. 50 km from Lisbon. This was my first school concert in Portugal. I played twice for two group of kids (50 kids). Around 45 minutes for each group. I played Tarrega, Villa-Lobos - latin repertoir. And of cours Bela Bartok's pieces. Kids were around 15-16 years old and totally open-minded and brave to ask me about art, my life, repertoir my thinking about art, music, why I'm doing this etc. They were very much intelligent. And actually they started to ask me on their own without any teacher pressure. Maria Joao Reis organised me these two concert and I am very thankful to her. And I got a great bottle of wine too!
They published a short article about me in the local Setubal paper called Setubalense.
Pictures by Maria Joao
Doing more and more concerts in Portugal
I am very happy now because I am doing couple of concerts in Portugal. I am still waiting for confirmations to do more.
Here you can find the list of my concerts sandormester.com
I am looking for an agent...
A nice guy, André - a guitarist also - is organising a concert where three of us will play on 11th of October in Lisbon. The place is called Casa de Lafoes looks cool on the website.
Today we were at Isabel's place in Sintra - she was very nice to us. I tried piri-piri which is a hot, extremely hot chili paprika - you can not imagine...
I still practice 3 hours a day, everyday - that is only enough for me to keep my level of play....
Here you can find the list of my concerts sandormester.com
I am looking for an agent...
A nice guy, André - a guitarist also - is organising a concert where three of us will play on 11th of October in Lisbon. The place is called Casa de Lafoes looks cool on the website.
Today we were at Isabel's place in Sintra - she was very nice to us. I tried piri-piri which is a hot, extremely hot chili paprika - you can not imagine...
I still practice 3 hours a day, everyday - that is only enough for me to keep my level of play....
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Concerts in Lisbon
Yesterday I played on a wonderfull quare of Lisbon at Eschadinhas de Sao Miguel. There was a silent movie that I played with as in the old times. Before that I was playing some Tarrega pieces. I enjoyed it very much. My friends Joao and Frederico organised it. I was playing on 'Cinalfama' project Then I went to Miguel's place to meet him, he was so nice as well. People here in Portugal are so nice and helpfull I can not believe it..
Pictures from the concert
And some pictures from Joana's party
Pictures from the concert
And some pictures from Joana's party
Friday, September 25, 2009
Sintra - and Lisboa
Today we went to Sintra to look around in the historic center. I went to the local cultural centre called Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval and gave my demo dvds to the cultural organiser lady. Maybe I can play in Sintra - it would be so cool.
At the evening we met Rui who is a nice guy and helping us a lot.
Then we went to Joana's flat for a dinner. There were couple of Portuguese boys and girls, a girl from Belgium and Romania. Frederico and Joao organisers of the event 'Cinalmafa' which is an outdoor cinema and music event. I'll play there...
At the evening we met Rui who is a nice guy and helping us a lot.
Then we went to Joana's flat for a dinner. There were couple of Portuguese boys and girls, a girl from Belgium and Romania. Frederico and Joao organisers of the event 'Cinalmafa' which is an outdoor cinema and music event. I'll play there...
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
First days in Lisbon
We arrived to Lisbon two days ago on Sunday 20h September. Isabel Chaves - film prducer - found us a great flat to rent so it was the first great surprise in Lisbon. On the second day we went to a Fado place with Antonio and then to Tejobar which seems a cult place in Lisboa. They gave me a guitar so I played two pieces of Heitor Villa-Lobos there. They liked it very much.. It was around 2-3 at the morning.
They played different kind of music with guitar and they were singing very nice. Guests, musicians...
It was my first experience in Lisbon and it was so fantastic. Cool and nice people love guitar music
They played different kind of music with guitar and they were singing very nice. Guests, musicians...
It was my first experience in Lisbon and it was so fantastic. Cool and nice people love guitar music
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Lullaby
Lullaby
MS3 tour in Romania
Hungarian, colour socio-musico documentary, 2008, 53 min.
Director: Eszter Hajdu
Cameramann: Viktor Csaba Nemeth, Edit Blaumann
Sound: Ferenc Gerendai
Editor: Sandor Balczer
Riporter: Andras Takacs
Producer: Balázs Wizner, Metaforum Bt.
Cast:
Sandor Mester
Elvira Budai
Anna Detari
Miklos Hadnagy
Istvan Toth
MS3 tour in Romania
Hungarian, colour socio-musico documentary, 2008, 53 min.
Director: Eszter Hajdu
Cameramann: Viktor Csaba Nemeth, Edit Blaumann
Sound: Ferenc Gerendai
Editor: Sandor Balczer
Riporter: Andras Takacs
Producer: Balázs Wizner, Metaforum Bt.
Cast:
Sandor Mester
Elvira Budai
Anna Detari
Miklos Hadnagy
Istvan Toth
Saturday, October 4, 2008
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