************************************************************

Gypsy violinist, classical virtuoso, jazz musician, composer, Roby Lakatos is all of these things at once, the kind of universal musician so rarely encountered in our time.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present a concert of "Roby Lakatos and his Ensemble" on November 4, to bring Hong Kong people dazzling live performances with pathos and humour as well as the romance of the traditional gypsy band.

Lakatos and his group combine their distinctive improvisational methods with a wealth of different genres - arrangements of popular classics, authentic gypsy music, special arrangements of pop tunes, as well as jazz and modern experimental elements.

Roby Lakatos is a direct descendant, seventh generation, of the legendary Hungarian gypsy violinist Janos Bihari, whose dynasty has influenced violin playing in the Balkans since the 18th century. By the time Roby Lakatos was five years old, he had already been introduced to the secrets of gypsy music, by Tony and Sandor Lakatos among others, and he gave his first public performance when he was nine.

A musician of extraordinary stylistic versatility, Roby Lakatos is as much at home in classical music and jazz as he is in his own Hungarian folk idiom. This universality allows him to perform the widest possible range of genres with other musicians, among them Stephane Grappelli, Giora Feidman and Herbie Hancock, as well as Vadim Repin and Randy Brecker.

Roby Lakatos founded the ensemble which is named after him in 1992. Today, the ensemble's members include, along Roby Lakatos himself, Ernest Bango (cymbalon), Kalman Cseki (piano), Oszkar Nemeth (double-bass) and Laszlo Boni (second violin). Since its foundation the ensemble has given concerts throughout Europe.

This is a golden chance to enjoy gypsy style classical music and jazz. The concert will be staged at 8 pm on November 4 at Queen Elizabeth Stadium. Tickets priced at $300, $150 and $80 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-priced concessions will be granted to all senior citizens, people with disabilities and full-time students.

For programme enquiries, please call 2734 2935; for ticketing enquiries and reservations, please call 2734 9009.

End/Wednesday, October 11, 2000.

NNNN