Ferenc Snétberger in Concert – May 15 at Kesselhaus, Berlin
Marking the International Day of Roma Resistance
The European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) invites you to an extraordinary concert on May 15, 2025, at Kesselhaus in der Kulturbrauerei, Berlin, featuring the internationally acclaimed guitarist Ferenc Snétberger.
Recognized by critics and audiences as one of the few truly distinctive voices of contemporary guitar, Ferenc Snétberger has developed a unique musical world blending classical and jazz with the Roma tradition of his Hungarian heritage, flamenco guitar techniques, samba rhythms, and the influence of J.S. Bach. His work creates a vibrant dialogue between past and present.
Snétberger has performed masterworks such as Luciano Berio’s Sequenza XI (for solo guitar) and concertos by Vivaldi, Rodrigo, and John McLaughlin. In 1995, to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Holocaust, he composed the Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra “In Memory of My People”. Inspired by melodies from the Roma tradition, this powerful and spirited piece serves as both a threnody and a celebration—a statement against human suffering and a dedication to his Sinti and Roma ancestors.
Over the years, Snétberger has received numerous honors for his contributions to music and culture, including the Hungarian Order of Merit (2012), the Kossuth Prize (2014)—Hungary’s highest cultural honor—the German Cross of Merit (2021), and the German Jazz Prize (2022).
He has toured globally and released numerous albums, including his recent ECM release Hallgató, a live recording with the Keller Quartet from Budapest’s Liszt Academy, following his previous ECM works In Concert (solo) and Titok (trio with Anders Jormin and Joey Baron).
In 2011, Snétberger founded the Snétberger Musical Talent Center in Hungary, dedicated to the musical education of children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
At the Berlin concert, Ferenc Snétberger will perform as a soloist and will be joined on stage by two extraordinary young talents from the Snétberger Center: Máté Balogh (saxophone) and Flóra Bakonszegi (vocals).
May 15, 2025 | 19:00 | Kesselhaus in der Kulturbrauerei
Knaackstraße 97 / U2 Eberswalder Straße, 10435 Berlin
Ticketing >>>
This event is organized by the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) as part of the two-day program “Roma Art of Resistance”, co-funded by the European Union and co-funded and implemented by the Council of Europe. ERIAC is part of the Roma Foundation for Europe Network, which also includes the Roma Education Fund, Roma Entrepreneurship Development Initiative, and Roma for Democracy Organisation.
