HOGYAN TOVÁBB ? (OST)

''Hogyan tovább?'' (the title could be translated as ''What will happen?'') is a very special album in László Benkö's discography. No electronic sounds here, mostly acoustic instruments. It is not rock music either, some pieces are chamber or symphonic, while others have, due to gipsy violin, folky feel. There are also hints of 1940's jazz. There is only one song on the album - ''Hogyan tovább?'', beautifully sung by Zsófi Farkas, its melody serves as a leitmotif and ties pieces together. All other tracks are instrumental.

As it follows from the title, ''Hogyan tovább?'' is a soundtrack of the film ''A Rózsa énekei'' (''Rose's Songs''), based on real events.

Budapest, Autumn 1944, Arrow Cross (Hungarian nazi's organization) terror, Yellow stars, Jewish ghettos. Villa of countertenor Imre Rózsa (Rose in English translation), world famous opera singer, a Jew himself, became the only more or less safety place for the family of his assistant Geza Halász and his friends and relatives. Mr. Rózsa never leaves his room, but once a week people in the house hear him singing. It seems to them, living in constant fear, that they really live only in the moments when these wonderful voice and music sound.

It is not only the story of so called Jewish question, it's rather a story of relations between people, their courage, conscience on one side and betrayal on the other. And it is a story of hope, which, as we all know, lives with people until the end. The movie deservingly won the number of prizes (see details on the film official website http://www.arozsaenekei.hu/index22.html).

László Benkö's music, alarming, but with glimmers of hope, helps to create the atmosphere of the film. It is a piece of art in its own right, but to get the whole picture better try to find ''A Rózsa énekei'' DVD as well (it has English subtitles, very helpful for non-Hungarians). I guess open minded OMEGA fans will be pleasantly surprised to see another side of keyboard wizard's talent, though it's not the record for fans only. Highly recommended.