The 100 Gypsy Violins of Budapest at the Palais de la Méditerranée in Nice on January 14, 2011

They are unique. Who? The musicians of the Budapest Symphony Orchestra. They have the distinct characteristic of playing without sheet music. They will perform at the Palais de la Méditerranée in Nice on January 14, 2011. The formation of this extraordinary group, which carries the energy of a people who have chosen the universal language of music to the four corners of the world, resembles a legend. In 1985, the unforgettable soloist and Roma conductor Sandor Jaroka, known as “Primas,” meaning an exceptional performer and soloist regarded simultaneously as a conductor and spiritual leader, passed away. At his funeral, the community gathered. It rained over the cemetery—a cold, biting rain like sleet. But the musicians were there, playing, giving a final salute to Sandor Jaroka, the King of the Primas. For those who experienced this moment, it is unforgettable. From a melancholic serenade over a grave, this fabulous orchestra was born, the 100 Gypsy Violins of Budapest.