Hungarian melody

One of the most authentic interpreters of traditional Hungarian folk music, Marta Sebestyen, will give a recital at the National Center for the Performing Arts on October 6, as part of the 2008 International Folk Songs Week.

Born in Budapest in 1957, Marta grew up surrounded by music. Her mother was a music teacher and by 12, she already knew where her future lay. "I have been living under the spell of folk songs ever since I was a young child," she says. "First these were the ones I heard my mother sing, later the folk music that opened up before me like a new world. I was mesmerized by the ancient voices, primarily the collections of Zoltan Kallos, full of marvelous texts and melodies."

Marta has performed live all her life, both as a solo artist and as a guest performer with several Hungarian and folk groups. Her collaboration with French group Deep Forest won a Grammy Award in 1996.