23. June 2008.

(The Night of Museums in Herend)

This year has been the second time for the Herend Porcelain Museum and its partner institutions to be part of a nationwide act. This year's 'Night of Museums' has been dedicated to the world of magic and has eventually proved to be one, not just as a result of the fiery nature of numerous shows – fire juggling and other events of the shortest night of the year, now something of a tradition – but also because of the timing of the museum's own exhibition. The ground floor in the museum building was the scene of a tale come alive with elves out of a book of tales filling the area. Ceramist Éva Bubutimár's charming little elves put a spell on the visitors...
As part of all the entertainment, visitors were shown around the museum and the manufactory, giving them an idea of the various aspects of the past and present of the manufactory. These guided tours were hugely popular, just like the concerts on our spectacular celebration grounds specially decorated for this occasion, which had an atmosphere of musical intimacy. Those with an eye for these little hidden gems were able to spot mushrooms, birds and other interesting objects made of ceramics besides the female musical instrument figures designed by the ceramist. Music lovers enjoyed the music played by flutist Szabolcs Kövi and the Kozma jazz trio. The square in front of the Porcelanium was packed with visitors watching the Bonita Dance Group or Irish step dancing, whichever they preferred. In the evening songs were performed by the Herend German Nationality Choir. As darkness set in, the number of visitors grew and as the evening progressed the area in front of the stage became a space crowded with onlookers. Ildikó Keresztes, an artist whose performance overwhelmed the audience, and Fourtissimo's performance, something unique even in a worldwide context, both had the audience express their enthusiasm through rhythmic hand clapping. St. Martin and his guests wrapped up the series of shows performed on the big stage that evening – quite a performance to dot the "i" and cross the "t". The sound of the saxophone and the bouzouki wove a net of harmony to mingle with a night of artistic mysteries...
The exclusive shows at the Apicius Café – the a capella choir called 'Vivát Bacchus', Péter Popper and Iza Széles along with Petra Horváth and Dalma Bódai – also attracted large audiences.
Herend celebrated this mystic night in glittery costume with all the lights underscoring the mood for celebration. Squares lit all around by miniature flames, complete with hundreds of floating wicks and torches with events being organised at different locations at the same time, the Herend attractions – body painting and fingernail ornamenting plus 'fabrication' – Mindsummer Night's bonfire, drummers, jugglers, horsemen, fairy tale elves – all had something up their sleeves to surprise the visitors, whose emotions were not unaffected, either. The night itself was unforgettable in its entirety. A night of tales and mystery... Herend continues to be a place well worth visiting any time, be it on a weekday or on another day of celebrations.