CRI听力:Lakatos and His Friends Cheer Up Parkview Green

By bringing music closer to the public, the NCPA has provided more than 20 chances for the public to cultivate an appreciation for music during this year's May Music Festival charity events.

And finally, it's time for jazz to take center stage. The NCPA invites Hungarian Gypsy violinist Roby Lakatos to perform with his band at the Parkview Green Shopping Center, one of the hottest and the most fashionable malls in the capital.

Roby Lakatos has a wide repertoire.

"In this music, we have everything, so we play everything, jazz, we play Gypsy music. I mean, all kinds of Gypsy music, not only Hungarian, Russian baroque style, French Gypsy music, jazz music and bebop jazz; so, very big, big, big different repertoire. I think we don't have any problem for what to play for the public, because everybody likes some style."

Lakatos is not only a scorching virtuoso, but a musician of extraordinary stylistic versatility. Equally comfortable performing classical music as he is playing jazz and his own takes on Hungarian folk music; Lakatos is a rare musician that defies definition. He has been referred to as the "devil's fiddler," a classical virtuoso, a jazz improviser, a composer and arranger, and a 19th-century throwback--he is actually all of these things at the same time.

The fascinating music attracts a huge amount of people standing around the stage in every floor of the mall to enjoy and even dance or jump with the rhythm.

"My name is Guo Xin. I like the performance. And I think this kind of show should be held more often so that more people can enjoy the music."

Bruce Chen is the project coordinator of the Parkview Green Shopping Center. He says he liked the show very much.

"I believe that the best art is suited for both refined and popular tastes. I looked up videos of Lakatos and his bands' performance beforehand and I feel that the show fits the style of our mall very well."

Jemo Lisztes is a member of Lakatos's band. He considers what the NCPA is doing as a great way to spread the arts, as well.

"We don't play usually like this. We mostly play concerts in theaters on big stages. I think it's good because, if the people walking in the shopping area hear the music, maybe they will come and see what's happening. It might be new for them--it's so open and I like it."

At the end of the bouncy notes on the fervently-played violin, together with the piano, Erhu and the band's backing, the charity public performances of the May Music Festival 2014 by NCPA drops the curtain.