**Ismertető szöveg:** A Pesti Vigadó Budapest belvárosának egyik épülete, komolyzenei intézmény, kulturális és szórakoztató-központ. A Vigadó elődje: Pollack Mihály tervei alapján készült az első Vigadó, a Redoute, mely 1833-ban nyílt meg. Igen jelentős események színhelyévé vált a klasszicista épület, megfordult benne id. Johann Strauss, és 1839-ben már Liszt Ferenc is nagy sikerű hangversenyt adott itt. E helyen tartották meg Kossuth Lajos javaslata alapján 1842 augusztusában az első "iparmű-kiállítást". 1848-49-ben az első Képviselő Ház a Vigadóban ülésezett. 1849 májusában Hentzi osztrák generális Budáról szétlövette az épületet. A jelenlegi Vigadó: Feszl Frigyes 1858-ban kezdett foglalkozni az új Vigadó tervezésével. A keleti elemekkel vegyített romantikus épület nagy feltűnést keltett, s csakhamar az akkori főváros egyik legfontosabb kulturális, művelődési intézményévé vált. Ünnepi bál keretében avatták fel 1865 januárjában. Belsejét Lotz Károly és Than Mór balladisztikus témákat feldolgozó freskói díszítik. A szobrok többségét Alexy Károly szobrászművész készítette.  
The work of Frigyes Feszl, one of the most renowned architects of the era, was constructed between 1859-1865. It is standing on a spot where previously a multipurpose complex has been erected involving German Theatre of Pest on the east section in 1812 and Redoute on the west, overlooking the Danube. The ensemble was completed in 1832 - but the theatre burnt down during a performance in 1847, while Redoute, a beautiful neo-classicist building with impressive front colonnade, planned by Mihály Pollack was heavily injured in 1849 when Austrian troops gunned Pest from Buda. Both were temporarily restored, but both needed a complete reconstruction. The German Theatre was never reconstructed again, an apartment block called Haas palace was erected there which was totally demolished during WWII (and was replaced by that awful modernist building in the 70s accomodating Hungaroton, ORI, Magvető Publishers, and many others, which has also disappeared since then, giving way to the new ING glass-palace on Vörösmarty square), while Redoute was reconstructed on the plans of Feszl under the name of Vigadó. It served as a venue for balls, society amusements and public concerts as far as WWII, when it was also heavily damaged. It was restored and reopened in 1980, housed a 700 seat concert hall, a 200 seat smaller hall and a gallery, and was closed in 2004. Threre are plans for complete refurbishment of which only this western main facade has been realized so far. The original stone faces (works of János Marschalkó) have been also renovated with care. This gallery is worth comparing with that of the 14-piece set at Millenium Memorial at Heroes' Square, representing a generation difference of historical taste and interest: out of 10 only 4 can be found on that one, as well. But almost all of the Hunyadi-family (János, his wife, Erzsébet Szilágyi and their younger son, Mátyás) is displayed here. Only the elder brother, the ill-fated László is absent. - Nevertheless, the complete gallery consists of 14 portraits, there are 2x2 further additions (Zsigmond of Luxembourg and Empress Marie Theresie of the Habsburgs on the northern, Attila of the Huns and Árpád on the southern side facades, respectively) as well, but this doesn't change basically the principle mentioned above: this is a more common selection of Hungarian history, that is a more official one. However, Marie Theresie had been also placed on the original Heroes' Square Memorial, but was removed in the 1950s.  
  
---