Extraordinary Meeting: “We Are Fine, Thank You”

The company meeting was opened by Managing Director Károly Aranyos, who underlined that Imre Szekeres has done a lot to achieve that the ensemble is now involved in the development of the international relations of the Ministry of Defence, and provided specific financial support for this. The managing director emphasized: this is how the Honvéd Férfikar (Male Choir) could take part in a military tour and be present at the Shanghai International Art Festival in China in the autumn of 2007. "We still feel the support and his intention to help" – he added.

Károly Aranyos said last year they celebrated the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the ensemble, and now, with a company meeting, there is an opportunity to finally close this series of events. Like he said at the end of last year they celebrated in the Stefánia Palace with the former members who were important personalities in the life of the ensemble. “In the past years there was one thing that did not change: our strong attachment to the defence portfolio, to the Hungarian Defence Forces, which always guaranteed our survival, the maintenance of the ensemble." The director recalled the most important – nicer and worse – memories of the ensemble, such as 1956 for example, when on their way back from the Chinese tour, the Honvéd Férfikar was not allowed to perform in Moscow. “It was the brave action of Zoltán Kodály that saved the company from ceasing to exist for good" – he said. “But 1994, and later 1996, the winding up of the Symphony Orchestra also brought drastic changes into the life of the ensemble" – he added. The reorganization of the defence forces required cuts in the number of personnel, then in 2000, with their transition to the Ministry of National Cultural Heritage another new chapter – bringing about changes and further redundancies – began in the life of the ensemble. “Compared to all this, thank you very much, but we are fine" – said the director. About the ordinary days of the ensemble and the friendly atmosphere he said everybody knew what the others were doing, for they were a part of each other’s life. To such an extent that there have been many marriages in the company.

After the director’s speech the guests were given a ‘taste’ of the repertoire of the Honvéd Ensemble: first they could listen to the performance of the Honvéd Férfikar, then the orchestra of the Honvéd Táncszínház (Dance Company) was performing a Gypsy song from Õrkõ. It was followed by the performance of the artists of the Honvéd Férfikar and the Honvéd Színház (Theater) with evergreen hits like ‘Csinibaba’ or ‘Táskarádió’. Finally, the audience could see the choreography of Zoltán Zsuráfszky, performed by the Honvéd Táncszínház.

The company meeting continued with the thank-you address of Imre Szekeres, in which he told the artists and the guests that the reason why he could not attend this event last December was that he was in Afghanistan. He added: "I could not come here in the past four years either, but it is not the sign of inattention. This period was about finishing the changes that started twenty years ago in the defence forces, and about having a stable military" – said the minister. Imre Szekeres emphasized: the Hungarian Defence Forces are one of the three most recognized institutions in Hungary, and what is more, they support cultural and sports activities as well from their direct budget.

Imre Szekeres explained: he would have liked the Ensemble to return to the Ministry of Defence. “I have not given up this effort of mine, the negotiations are still in progress." The minister told the guests in confidence that he has been following the activities of the Honvéd Ensemble since he was a secondary school student. “Sixty years is quite a lot. I have seen a production of the ensemble in nearly every stage of my life. I wish you similarly successful years in the future too" – he added.

The medal ceremony began after the minister’s speech: at the company meeting the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd classes of the Tile of Merit ’For Defence’, the Defence Memorial Plaque of the Chief of Defence Staff, and certificates of recognition were awarded, and finally Károly Aranyos presented Defence Minister Imre Szekeres with a commemorative certificate prepared for the anniversary.

Former dancers and founding members, director Ádám Horváth and László Seregi were also presented with small commemorative objects.