Pennod 1 Aled Jones: Fy Nhaith Glasurol

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-Hello, I'm Aled Jones,

-and I welcome you to join me...

-..as I visit classical music's

-most famous places.

-I'm in the city of Budapest.

-I still marvel

-at its incredible beauty.

-Behind me

-is the glorious River Danube.

-It owes its fame

-to Johann Strauss's memorable waltz.

-Later, we'll board

-our pleasure boat along the river.

-We'll travel through

-the homeland of classical music.

-What a view.

-Let's explore the city that gave us

-the great composer Franz Liszt.

-Then came two important

-20th century Hungarian composers.

-Zoltan Kodaly and Bela Bartok.

-This is the amazing

-Fisherman's Bastion.

-The city's fishmongers once fought

-an invasion force from these walls.

-Budapest is one

-of central Europe's oldest cities.

-Since the end of the cold war,

-people have flocked here.

-There has been a settlement here

-since about 400BC.

-It was in Roman hands for 500 years.

-Attila the Hun

-took over 300 years later.

-The Magyar tribes

-settled early in the 10th century.

-They are the forebears

-of ethnic Hungarians.

-A hundred years later,

-the kingdom of Hungary was founded.

-The next millennium was turbulent

-for both Hungary and Budapest.

-The Turks arrived

-in the 16th and 17th centuries.

-Then the Habsburgs were here

-until the mid-19th century.

-Hungary succeeded in regaining

-a measure of independence in 1867.

-Six years later,

-Budapest as we know it was created.

-The areas of Buda and Obuda

-lay on the same bank of the Danube.

-They were unified

-with Pest on the other side.

-The remarkable buildings of the era

-were constructed at this time.

-There is one unmissable place.

-The neo-Gothic swimming pool

-is Budapest's hottest and deepest.

-You can swim here all year round.

-A therapeutic experience,

-for some.

-Budapest is often called

-the Paris of the East.

-Its beautiful historic buildings

-are on either side of the Danube.

-A romantic cruise is the way

-to appreciate the buildings.

-The city's bridges

-look different by night.

-Behind me, you can see

-some noble buildings.

-They stand on either side

-of this river.

-It's no surprise

-that what you see here...

-..has been designated

-a World Heritage Site.

-Nine bridges cross the river

-within the city.

-This, the Chain Bridge,

-is the oldest of them.

-It was built in the mid-19th century

-to link central Buda with Pest.

-Before then, the only connection

-was a pontoon in the summer.

-A little beyond the parliament

-buildings is Margaret Bridge.

-The city centre lies

-between these two bridges.

-Do these buildings seem familiar?

-The Houses of Parliament in London

-were the inspiration.

-There are many beautiful churches

-in Budapest.

-This is one of the most beautiful.

-It's the Matthias Church,

-named after one of Hungary's kings.

-He added the tower

-at the southern end.

-The ceramic tiles are majolica.

-It was an Italian Renaissance style.

-Let's go inside.

-Its interior

-is as dramatic as its exterior.

-Highly ornate, it houses

-this unique neo-Gothic altar.

-The Emperor Franz Josef

-was crowned here.

-He became the first king

-of the independent Hungary in 1867.

-The Ottoman Turks

-had once ruled here.

-So too had Austria.

-Many different architectural styles

-emerged in Budapest.

-Religious and cultural influences

-add to the city's visual appeal.

-This is another

-of Budapest's great churches.

-This is the largest, and its dome

-rivals that of St Peter's in Rome.

-As you see,

-it's a magnet for tourists.

-It took 50 years

-for it to be completed.

-The newly-independent Hungary

-wanted to make up for lost time.

-Budapest was formed to become

-one of Europe's great cities.

-The church is extremely beautiful,

-and characteristically Hungarian.

-Take a look up there.

-No wonder

-it's compared to St Peter's.

-It's so splendid.

-The first dome

-collapsed during construction.

-They had to start afresh.

-I'm glad that they did.

-Franz Liszt

-was very religious from childhood.

-He thought of becoming a priest

-rather than a composer.

-In later life, he became an abbe,

-a priest in all but name.

-Yet, his love life would have kept

-today's gossip writers very busy!

-However, he found the time

-to become the era's major pianist.

-He was the prolific composer

-of some unforgettable music.

-Like many other great composers,

-he was a talented child.

-He gave public piano recitals

-when only nine years old.

-This is where he lived,

-along with his instruments.

-Soon, he was the rising young star.

-Everyone marvelled at him.

-He was also a handsome boy.

-Consequently, he was world-famous

-by the time he was 20 years old.

-This is the latest

-Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest.

-It's one of the best music schools

-in Europe.

-A sculpture of the great composer

-overlooks the entrance.

-It's unlikely that any student

-is unaware of his heritage.

-He was committed not only to music

-but also to music education.

-In old age,

-Liszt could have taken things easy.

-Instead, he became interested

-in teaching and conducting.

-He became a benefactor to help those

-who had not done as well as him.

-Liszt did not realize the extent

-of his impact on the world of music.

-This Academy is a great link with

-one of the most prominent composers.

-These students will step out into

-the world to continue this story.

-They will inspire

-a new generation of composers.

-In his sixties, Franz Liszt

-visited his native land regularly.

-This was mainly as a teacher.

-He set up

-the original Academy of Music.

-It would greatly influence

-the next generation.

-Two famous composers, Zoltan Kodaly

-and Bela Bartok, came to teach here.

-Liszt had done the same

-half a century earlier.

-Zoltan Kodaly was also a pioneer

-of teaching children to read music.

-His method

-is now used extensively worldwide.

-Liszt had started

-something special in Hungary.

-Both Kodaly and Bartok

-had studied at the original Academy.

-They studied in the very room

-that had been Liszt's study.

-They became the best of friends,

-and had a common ambition.

-This was to create music

-which was typically Hungarian.

-They travelled around rural Hungary.

-They sought out folk melodies

-that had survived.

-They then began to record the songs

-on wax cylinders.

-They became early pioneers

-of this new technology.

-This is the Kodaly Museum.

-This was his home in Budapest.

-He lived here from 1924

-until his death 43 years later.

-Open to all, it's a treasure trove

-chronicling a remarkable life.

-Many of the rooms

-have been lovingly preserved.

-The early recording equipment

-is an invaluable addition.

-It includes the cylinders

-he and Bartok used on their travels.

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-Just down the road from Budapest's

-Kodaly Museum is the Opera House.

-The maestro himself, Liszt,

-welcomes guests at the entrance.

-This is a prime example of their

-extravagant approach to building.

-This is a wholly Hungarian creation,

-both inside and outside.

-No expense was spared. Look at

-these stairs. Aren't they grand?

-In the auditorium, only seven kilos

-of layers of gold!

-This is Budapest's Opera House.

-This is over-elaboration

-by the Austro-Hungarian Empire...

-..but of the very best sort!

-Franz Josef wanted it to match

-Vienna's Opera House in size.

-It's a little smaller

-but much more ostentatious.

-Zoltan Kodaly and his family

-hid in its cellar for a fortnight.

-That was in early 1945,

-when the Russians attacked Budapest.

-The cloakroom was where the work

-Missa Brevis was given its debut.

-As the Nazis approached

-at the outset of World War II...

-..Bartok fled to America,

-never to return.

-But his contribution is commemorated

-in this exquisite concert hall.

-I'd love to be singing here tonight.

-The Bartok National Concert Hall

-has the feel of a Gothic cathedral.

-It's a privilege to enter

-such an exceptional venue.

-It seats about 1,700 people.

-A new organ was installed in 2006.

-It's one of the largest in Europe,

-with 92 stops, five keyboards...

-..470 wooden pipes

-and 1,214 reed pipes.

-Hungary's geographical location

-has worked against the country.

-Traditionally, it supported Austria.

-It entered World War II

-on Germany's side.

-But the Nazis took over,

-and Hungarian Jews were slaughtered.

-At the end of the war,

-Hungary came under Russian rule.

-Stalin's cruelty

-brought fear to all.

-In 1956, a popular revolution

-in Budapest was quelled...

-..as Soviet tanks

-reached the city's streets.

-The word beneath the roof

-means terror.

-This building

-was the Nazi headquarters.

-The secret police then took it over.

-A place named the House of Terror

-wouldn't normally attract tourists.

-But this museum is a place

-of great importance to Hungarians.

-The aim was to help them

-come to terms...

-..with the horrors endured

-under Nazism and communism.

-It's sad to see the photos

-of those who died here.

-Yet, the place is testimony

-to hope and courage.

-They've made Hungary

-the place it is today.

-This is Heroes' Square.

-Behind me is the remarkable

-Millennium Memorial.

-It celebrated Hungary's

-thousandth anniversary.

-These are the leaders of the

-seven tribes who founded Hungary.

-Ironically, Hungary was ruled

-by Austria when they were sculpted.

-Part of this monument tells

-the turbulent history of Hungary...

-..until its attempt

-to reject communism.

-It's also a symbol

-of challenge and bravery.

-It's time to leave Budapest

-on our classical journey.

-It's time to board the ship

-for further musical adventures...

-..along the great rivers of Europe.

-Isn't this a truly amazing city?

-It has history, varied architecture,

-culture, art and music.

-But now we're about to leave.

-The Danube will lead us

-on another adventure...

-..in the world of classical music.

-From the river, we'll enjoy

-some of Budapest's best sights...

-..as we head towards Bratislava.

-This is the Danube.

-If you liked geography at school,

-maybe you'll know all about it.

-But in case you weren't listening

-that day, here's what you missed.

-At 2,860 kilometres,

-it's Europe's second-longest river.

-From its source

-in Germany's Black Forest...

-..it grows into a large river.

-It flows through ten countries

-in central Europe.

-Leaders have come and gone

-over the centuries.

-The borders have changed constantly

-in this part of Europe.

-Having travelled from Budapest,

-we've now reached Slovakia.

-This is the capital, Bratislava.

-You can see it all from this boat.

-Bratislava is a tourist hot spot.

-It's a magical place on the Danube.

-There's a fast ferry from Vienna,

-and many commute there.

-As we sail past Bratislava,

-we head for the wonders of Vienna.

-This is Vienna,

-a place full of musical history.

-It's hard to know where to start.

-It's the city of Mozart,

-Beethoven, Haydn...

-..the city of Brahms,

-Mahler, Schubert...

-..and, of course, Strauss,

-father and son.

-No wonder Vienna is often called

-Europe's capital of music.

-Vienna is another of the Danube's

-great cities, steeped in history.

-The Romans were here, and then

-came the prosperous Middle Ages.

-The Danube brought wealth

-and Vienna grew.

-The Habsburgs ran this place

-at the end of the 13th century.

-It held great religious importance.

-It became the capital

-of the Holy Roman Empire.

-Churches galore were constructed.

-The Gothic style ruled

-in the Middle Ages...

-..as did Baroque by the time

-of the Counter-Reformation.

-These have influenced

-the way Vienna looks today.

-This is Stephansplatz,

-or St Stephen's Square.

-This is where Vienna's heart beats.

-St Stephen's Cathedral

-is the focal point.

-Its history spans the centuries.

-I can't wait

-to take a closer look at Vienna.

-I hope you'll join me next time...

-..to see what the city has to offer.

-Goodbye for now.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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