Following the people from Békés, in other words, historical celebrity spotting

Gyula city has preserved the atmosphere of the 1800s exceptionally well: the streets have changed almost nothing in the last two hundred years. Where we go nowadays, many former citizens of Békés were walking there as well, the most famous of whom is Ferenc Erkel, the composer of the Hungarian Anthem. Instead of the sophisticated composer, however, let’s imagine a young boy hurrying behind his father, who was the sub-lieutenant in Gyula, to the luxurious palace of a certain Albert Rosty. There will be a musical party again, where little Ferenc Erkel turns the pages of the sheet music, and his musician father plays the violin in a chamber orchestra composed by the host. Besides playing regular music at home, the ten-year-old Erkel also appears behind the organ of the church downtown: sometimes he has to replace his father, at which point a stool was reportedly placed on the organ chair otherwise the boy couldn’t reach the instrument. And today when we come to the Centennial Confectionery for a coffee or we cool off under the old trees of Almássy Castle, we are still following in Erkel’s footsteps: despite having left the city at a young age, he often returned to Gyula. At first he spent his holidays there, and later he took rest here regularly. Erkel and the people of Gyula equally were glad that he travelled here – the master was loved, as he played improvisational waltz at dance parties, and he also enjoyed company. In addition, he had a genuine talent not only in composing music, but in playing chess!

Another genius is also attached to Gyula, although when his name is mentioned, Békéscsaba comes to mind. Although Mihály Munkácsy was orphaned at a young age – because we are talking about him – He started his carpentry studies in Békéscsaba, and everything points to the fact that he embarked on the path to later world success in Gyula: he decided to become a painter here. That is to say, the 17-year-old Munkácsy worked as a young carpenter in Arad, where he became seriously ill in the midst of many deprivations, so he returned to his foster father, István Reök. At that time, instead of Békéscsaba, Reök lived in Gyula in the house of a carpenter, in the current house at 15 Munkácsy Street, in very modest conditions. Here the young painter recovered, and during this time he also went to drawing school for a few weeks, and then he met Elek Szamossy, who was working for the counts of Wenckheim at that time. Szamossy was an educated painter who earned his living by making portraits and knew a lot about different techniques and art history. The young Miska Munkácsy – he wascalled this by his loved ones –, started to make his way, while he was working in the castle next to Szamossy, and after accepting his suggestion, he traveled to Pest to study and work. Munkácsy’s life began somehow like this, which soon continued in Vienna and Paris, but his ties often dragged him back to Békés. The destitute boy became a celebrated star in a few decades, but the impressions of the countryside can be found in his pictures. His first sketchbook – which has been mysteriously lurking since World War II – is full of depictions of the area. The castle of Gyula, the homesteads and the local people appear in the papers, and later he also made many portraits of people from Csaba and Gyula alike

Ferenc Kállai, one of the most popular film and stage actors of the 20th century, was inspired quite differently, but also from the world of Békés. The legendary actor, who was known for his mischievous smile, reached back to his childhood memories during the formation of his most famous character, József Pelikán dam keeper: he brought the idiomatic speech from Gyomaendrőd. We have to imagine the little Kállai when we go to Gyoma: for example, when he was serving mass in the church with a serious expression on his face. And how much he was attracted to play in front of the audience is also proved by a lovely local anecdote: he once joined a traveling circus company, practically escaping from home. But he didn't expect his grandfather to witness what happened, so it was a big surprise when he heard the voice of his own father, while he was selling water during the next break in Dévaványa: “Little boy, just bring me a glass!” Stories like this will surely come to light if the exhibition presenting the Kállai legacy opens in the new wing of the city gallery.