Winter is not over yet, but Debrecen’s cultural life is already gearing up for spring. In February, the city’s events are almost overlapping, with a zoo bear carnival, a wintery family day and a Szalóki Ági concert for the younger ones, an ABBA show and a Zorán concert for the older ones. In February you can hear the masterpieces of world-famous film composer Hans Zimmer on a concert, and the Junior Figure Skating and Ice Dancing World Championships also kicks off at the end of the month. Browse the program now!
Bear Carnival
1-3 February 2025 ǀ Zoo Debrecen
According to a folk belief linked to the day of the Blessed Virgin Mary Candlemas, if a bear escaping from its cave sees its shadow, i.e. the sun is shining, it will be frightened and hide back, and it will be a long winter. Zoo Debrecen is once again trying to predict the weather and the end of winter with the help of Dönci the bear and is once again expecting a fun-filled carnival for all those who want to celebrate the end of winter and the coming of spring in a truly special environment, with a variety of wildlife and a colorful cavalcade of themed programs.
At the source of German Romanticism – A concert by the Kodály Philharmonic Orchestra
4 February 2025 19:00 ǀ Pásti Street Synagogue
Program:
Telemann: Overture and Suite TWV 55:D18, TWV 55:g1 /
Haydn: Symphony in G major No.94
With: Kodály Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Tibor Bényi
Origin – exhibition opening
8 February 2025 16:00 ǀ MODEM
The exhibition Origin, held in MODEM’s third floor exhibition space, interprets the five books of Moses from the Bible, the prehistory of mankind, the basis of the values of the cultures defined by Judaism and Christianity, from the perspective of the 21st century man, with the help of contemporary Hungarian artists.
Choral works in black and white – A concert by the Kodály Choir
14 February 2025 19:00 ǀ University of Debrecen, Assembly Hall
One of the main characters of the evening is one of the choirs’ most faithful companions: the piano. How much of a role this excellent instrument can play in the life of a choir, we will try to find answers to in our concert. Our carnival concert will include all kinds of music: classical, romantic, contemporary, serious, light-hearted. How much better will you feel after our concert? Playing the piano can make all the difference.
Vojevogyina Olga – piano / Kodály Choir
Conductor: Zoltán Kocsis-Holper
ABBA Show
16 February 2025 19:00 ǀ VOKE Cultural Center
Dancing Queen, Money Money Money, SOS, Waterloo, Mamma Mia, Happy New Year, Thank You For The Music, The Winner Takes It All, Fernando and many more! ABBA ABBORN has been touring across Europe for over 20 years and has been a huge success. A total of 70 million people have seen their show on French television. This is mainly due to their authenticity, which takes you back to the 70s. As well as a perfectly polished show, they also dazzle with their impressive musical talent.
Concert by Javier Nandayapa Velasco (Mexico) and the SONUS percussion ensemble
16 February 2025 19:00 ǀ DE Faculty of Music – Liszt Hall
Zorán concert
17 February 2025 19:00 ǀ Kölcsey Center
Zorán is a household name in the Hungarian music scene, his concerts are always a celebration. Returning audiences know that besides the unmissable and unforgettable songs, the orchestra always performs rarely played compositions and musical delicacies, and the program also includes special performances by the orchestra’s selected musicians. And newcomers will be amazed at the emotional and thoughtful richness of these songs and how soul-stirring a Zorán concert can be. This time will be no different.
Night of Schumann and Bruckner – A concert by the Kodály Philharmonic Orchestra
18 February 2025 19:00 ǀ Kölcsey Center
Program:
Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor op. 54.
Bruckner: Symphony No. I (C minor)
With: Klára Würtz – piano / Kodály Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Anton Shaburov
Around the world with clarinet – Clarinet recitals by Krisztián Szabó, Márton Papp, Keve Ablonczy and Mátyás Katrin
20 February 2025 19:00 ǀ DE Faculty of Music – Liszt Hall
Hans Zimmer’s soundtrack concert
21 February 2025 19:00 ǀ VOKE Cultural Center
This unique evening takes you into the world of the most iconic film music, full of emotion and musical masterpieces that have defined the world of modern cinema. In Debrecen, a symphony orchestra will perform the masterpieces of the famous composer Hans Zimmer in an exclusive concert. Hans Zimmer is a German composer who is famous for his film scores. He is known for his ability to add intensity and emotional depth to storytelling through his music. His best-known films include Origin, Interstellar, Dune and Gladiator, which have won the hearts of audiences worldwide. Zimmer has received numerous awards for his work, including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes and four Grammy Awards, for a total of 37 accolades.
Awakening of the flower elves – winter and spring family day
22 February 2025 09:30 ǀ Kölcsey Center
Wake up, my dears, spring is coming! Mother Earth awakens the flower people slumbering among the roots with a soft voice. The little flower elves wipe the sleep from their eyes and start to sew their splendid dresses again, so diligent that they dust and polish the armor of the beetles. With the coming of spring, they emerge from the ground to enchant the forest dwellers with their fragrance and beautiful colors.
Let us banish winter together and welcome spring together!
Children’s concert by Ági Szalóki
22 February 2025 11:00 ǀ Kölcsey Center
Ági Szalóki’s career started in 1994. At the Kálmán Nádasdy Music School she was a student of Klára Bodza in the folk singing class. She is an open-minded musician who draws her inspiration primarily from traditional music and Hungarian poetry. At his family concerts, he selects songs from the album “Circulation”, from the songs of Lőrinc Cipity and Gingalló, and even from the Téli-nyári laboda. He will also perform songs from his latest album, Buzzing Time.
At this concert, Ági will be joined on stage by some of the finest artists from the national and international music scene.
Puccini’s Heroines – A concert by the Kodály Philharmonic Orchestra and the Kodály Choir
25 February 2025 19:00 ǀ Kölcsey Center
Program:
Puccini: excerpts from the operas Tosca, Madame Butterfly, La Bohème, Manon Lescaut and Gianni Schicchi
Puccini: Sister Angelica, Part II
Performers: Gabriella Létay Kiss, Atala Schöck – vocals / Kodály Philharmonic Orchestra / Kodály Choir (choir director: Zoltán Kocsis-Holper) / Lautitia Children’s Choir
Conductor: Imre Kollár
Junior Figure Skating and Ice Dancing World Championships
25 February – 1 March 2025 ǀ Főnix Arena
Debrecen will once again host one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events, the World Junior Figure Skating and Ice Dancing Championships 2025, from 25 February to 1 March 2025, at the stunning Főnix Arena. This event is one of the four annual ISU Figure Skating Championships and the most prestigious for juniors. Medals in men’s singles, women’s singles, pairs figure skating and ice dancing will be awarded during the event. During the competition, each category will present two skating events, a short program or rhythmic dance and a round dance.
