During this breathtaking experience, HAVASI pays tribute to the heritage of classical music, the diversity of world music and the pure power of rock at the same time. The musical journey helps you discover the cultural treasures of worlds and nations. The monumental project features over 150 artists. In addition to the symphony orchestra, a huge choir, Japanese battle drums, exotic instruments and 20 excellent world music soloists demonstrate the emergence of a 21st century musical language which people understand and identify with worldwide. Lisa Gerrard The Australian singer, musician and composer became a world star as a member of the band Dead Can Dance. For the soundtrack of Gladiator, co-produced with Hans Zimmer, she was nominated for an Oscar and received the Golden Globe. Her characteristic, incomparable, painfully magnificent contralto voice is often heard in the biggest box-office hits of Hollywood. In addition to Gladiator, her own compositions were performed in a number of films, including Baraka, Heat, Mission Impossible II, Man on Fire and The Insider. Lisa Gerrard performs in Storm, one of HAVASI’s most popular musical movements. Harlem Gospel Choir The Harlem Gospel Choir is one of the best known gospel choirs in the world. They have toured almost the whole world, appearing in such TV shows as The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Colbert Report. They performed for Nelson Mandela, Pope John Paul II and Sir Elton John, working together with a number of superstars, including Diana Ross, Whoopi Goldberg, Lisa Marie Presley, André Rieu and Bono. Each of their performances is a special celebration of music, love and faith, and their genuine talent is able to make a deep impression on their audience. Tina Guo Tina Guo has developed an international multi-faceted performance and recording career as a solo classical cellist, electric cellist, erhuist, and composer known for her distinctive sound and improvisatory style in major motion picture, television, and game scores. She is featured in the commercial for the new 2014 Mazda6, the 2014 United Airlines commercial, and was also a featured soloist in Cirque Du Soleil's Michael Jackson "The Immortal" World Tour from 2011-2013 performing in sold out arenas around the world. Tina performed to 2 million audience members worldwide during her time with the group, topping the charts again in 2012 as the highest grossing tour in America. Gigi Radics The young singer was born to a family of musicians in the small Hungarian village of Endrefalva in August 1996. An innate talent, she was only six months old when she could hum back the tunes that her father sang and played for her. She became an overnight celebrity in spring 2012, when she won hands down the Hungarian talent show Megastar. Her gift is increasingly noted around the world: Quincy Jones invited her in person to sing at the Montreux Jazz Festival, presenting her on stage as a “big promise of music”. Experts predict she is facing a brilliant musical career. In the song co-produced with HAVASI and the Harlem Gospel Choir, her performance impressed not only the audience but also the participants themselves. Peter Pejtsik Composer, orchestrator and performer Péter Pejtsik has been a creative partner of HAVASI as a key contributor to the rich musical world of the Symphonic Show from the beginning. He is a charismatic artist with a proficiency in a number of musical styles and an intimate knowledge of nearly every field from classical trends through soundtracks to the most diverse genres of pop music. He has contributed to the music of more than 100 Hungarian and international films, musicals, plays, symphonic pop records, computer games and building projections. He has released 13 albums and has toured the world with After Crying, the band that he founded and manages. In addition to his independent projects, he often composes or orchestrates for such international clients as the BBC, Eurodisney or Peter Gabriel’s Real World Music. Kristof Hajos-Devenyi The singer-lyricist Kristof and HAVASI created The Unbending Trees - a special musical experience. This art project is one of the most original pieces in European music according to British musical critics. The music of The Unbending Trees is often likened to the musical world of Leonard Cohen or Antony and the Johnsons. You Are a Lover (lyrics by Kristof Hajos-Devenyi and music by HAVASI) became a hit on the 2011 solo album of Tracey Thorn, singer of Everything But The Girl. For SYMPHONIC II Kristof wrote the lyrics of Hello Miss Dawn (he also performs it) and Bird of Dreams. Endi A dare-devil of the band Hooligans, has repeatedly proved his talent behind the rock drums. While at first sight it may be striking to see both guys together, their approach to music is nearly the same and the difference between them is merely apparent. There is a point in all approaches, and this bold experiment of the Drum & Piano project based on the friendship of the two guys, has by now become a brilliant success. The Drum & Piano Project premiered on 11 July 2011 in Scotland, at TED Global, one of the most prominent scientific conferences in the world. The co-production of the two special characters received a standing ovation both in the most elegant concert halls and at the summer festivals which attract the highest crowds. The Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra Under the direction of Gábor Hollerung the Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra soon reached a high rank in the world of international music with greatly successful performances both in and outside Hungary. It gives 40-50 concerts a year and runs six self-produced subscription series. In addition, it has appeared in a number of celebrations and renowned national festivals. One of its main objectives is to promote and widely popularise Hungarian musical culture. Its programmes often feature contemporary pieces but its repertoire also abounds in classical compositions. Holder of the Franz Liszt, Jerusalem and Artisjus Awards, Musical Director Gábor Hollerung is founder of the Budapest International Choir Competition and a series modelled on it, the Musica Mundi Festival, and is a regular guest not only at European concerts but also in Israel, Taiwan and the USA. In 2002 he received the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary. The Budapest Academic Choral Society Under the direction of Gábor Hollerung, is an emblematic ensemble of the Hungarian music life while being a frequent partner of the most renowed orchestras in the country. Since its formation in 1957, the choir has been in the forefront of international choir culture and has participated the most important choral competitions in Europe with great success. It regularly takes part in the Choir Olympics and different Hungarian events such as Budapest Spring Festival and Zemplen Festival. Along with interpreting classical works, the choir’s objective is to perform contemporary music and introduce new Hungarian choral works. SYMPHONIC II also features: - Judit Andrejszki (singing) - Miklos Vincze (singing) - Emese Egeto (folk singing) - Johanna Orban (folk singing) - Julianna Paar (folk singing) - Reka Soos (folk singing) - Sara Timar (folk singing) - Ferenc Csiszar (guitar) - Gyorgy Frey (bass guitar) - Edina "Squirrel" Szirtes (violin) - Balazs "Bumble-Bee" Szokolay (bagpipes, flute) - Antonia Wernig (Irish bagpipes, Irish fiddle) - Daniel Szabo (Irish flute) - Krisztina Proksza-Imhof (Irish fiddle) - Yunnan Province Art Group (traditional Chinese instruments, Ren Junyu, Qian Ying, Cha Dixia) - Marton Takacs (percussions) - Kio-Kito Taiko (Japanese drums) - Z-Drums (Latin percussions, Laszlo Gera, Miklos Markos, Istvan Perger, Szilveszter Schneider) Music: HAVASI Arranged and conducted by: Peter Pejtsik Lyrics: Kristof Hajos-Devenyi Recorded in Tom-Tom A and D studios, Avisio Studio, Franz Liszt Academy of Music, Studio 22 Recording engineers: Tamas Kurina, Gergely Lakatos, Gabor Buczko, Miklos Lukacs, David Schram, Viktor Szabo Mixing and mastering: Classic-Sound Studio, Budapest Leading sound engineer: Gabor Juhos Production manager: Miklos Lukacs Producer: Csaba Marjai Further information about HAVASI: www.havasi.eu