Although we live in the same village, the last time we saw each other was seven years ago. Bélu’s career was just beginning then, and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, he continues to travel the world unwaveringly as a member of various musical formations. He has traveled almost all over Europe, visited China and has resided in Bratislava’s Petržalka district for years. He just stopped by his home to celebrate his grandfather’s 70th birthday with a traditional Roma party, singing his favorite songs along the way. Because Vojtech “Bélu” Botoš, who turned 30 last year, loves a good time.
“I was playing comedy, entertaining others, but I didn’t feel joy myself.”
– says the actor in the London production of The Tragedy of Man Before He Takes His Own Life.
Well, this phrase is less suitable for Bélu Botoš, who not only entertains his audience, but also likes to entertain himself. Last year, he had to cancel one of his concerts when he learned that his parents had invited relatives and professionals to celebrate his 30th birthday. The only thing missing was a band, but I couldn’t imagine a party without a gypsy band, so he quickly put together a small group, which he led until dawn. Although he came from a musical family and had held a violin since he was four years old, it didn’t look for a long time like his longed-for dreams would one day come true.
Bélu’s grandfather was one of the best violists in the region, his father chose the double bass, but there are several violinists and clarinet players in the family, and one of his cousins is the well-known folk singer Mónika Rigó. However, his parents were afraid of him and so instead of the conservatory (which at that time only operated in Košice and Banská Bystrica) they enrolled him at the secondary vocational school in Rimavská Sobota, where he graduated with a degree in hotel management.
Despite his parents’ warnings, he decided to try the conservatory and became a pupil of Dušan Radič in Banská Bystrica. And although he had studied violin for years before, in Banská Bystrica he switched to his grandfather’s legendary instrument – the viola, which is essential in orchestras, but still perceived as a “second violin”.
He has grown so fond of the viola that he considers its popularisation one of his main goals in life. At first he played his grandfather’s viola, but today he plays on a very valuable viola made for him by Tamás Orsós, the bow being made by a Czech master. He spent only one year at the conservatory, because he transferred to the Academy of Arts, where he became a student of Zuzana Bouřová . He graduated from the Academy with excellent results, and shortly afterwards succeeded in an audition for the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, where he won a permanent place.
He didn’t regret it because the orchestra brought together the best violists in the country. The orchestra currently has 11 violists, and since 2-5 players are needed for each concert (depending on the program), he has the opportunity to perform in other formations.
“Traditional Roma music has been the most important thing in my life for a long time. But already at the primary art school in Rimavská Sobota, my teacher Éva Szabó led me to classical music, which I fell in love with. Today it has an even more important place in my everyday life,” says Bélu, who feels at home in both Hungarian and Slovak folklore. But he hasn’t found his way to jazz yet. “I prefer what is written in the notes. I’m not the type who likes to improvise,” he adds.
After high school he spent a year at the Ferenc Snétberger Music Centre in Felsőörsi. It was with him that he performed abroad for the first time – in Berlin. From there his career took off in full swing: in recent years he has toured across Europe and occasionally played with the band in China. “With the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra we have on average one to two concerts a month, and we also record a number of contemporary Slovak works on CD,” says Bélu.
In recent years, he has also participated in the musical recordings of several new Slovak films. Audiences could also notice him on the stage of the Slovak National Theatre, where for many years he performed in the popular show Kubo. It was withdrawn from the repertoire last spring, but Bélu soon found a new theatre venue. He currently plays the viola in the musical theatre project Red Cabaret La Boca, which is based in Bratislava on Obchodna Street and led by actress Lucia Šípošová. The performance, inspired by the world of Argentine tango, allows him to show another side of his musical personality.
In recent years, Bélu has also been active in other musical groups – among them, for example, Dobrá muzika or Musketeers. He has also worked with the legendary Roby Lakatos, winner of the Danko Award. Moreover, a few years ago he was approached by the world-famous violin virtuoso Pavel Šporcl, who invited him to join his international project Gipsy Way. Together they have given concerts in many European cities.
His true passion, however, lies with the band Manuša, fronted by vocalist Júlia Kozáková. The group specializes in world music inspired by Roma, Slovak, and Central European traditions. “Even if the year had twice as many days, we still couldn’t take on all the invitations,” he says with a smile. In recent seasons, they’ve performed on renowned stages across London, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Scotland, and Helsinki, Finland.
When the opportunity arises, Bélu also enjoys performing with Géza Hosszu-Legocky & The 5 DeViLs, led by two-time Grammy Award-nominated violin virtuoso Géza Hosszú. And when time permits, he also appears in concerts of other ensembles across regions, regardless of borders. Recently, he took part in a traditional singing evening in the village of Simonyi in Gemer, where he played in Károlya Puka’s orchestra.
“I remember when I was a teenager and I got the opportunity to play with his band, the organiser asked him to let me do it for at least a few minutes. It was a huge experience for me. Later he let me sit on the edge of the stage during a concert in Bratislava, but now he calls me on stage with pride,” recalls an emotional Bélu, who is already looking forward to September’s Czinka Panna folklore festival in the village of Gemer, where he will perform as a primate with his occasional orchestra.
“I was the last one to win this competition, and since there are fewer and fewer primáš in the region, the festival now functions more like an evening of Hungarian songs. I am therefore very happy to be able to accompany the singers. My father will play double bass – I’m still thinking about the line-up of the other musicians,” he adds. In the autumn, he would like to revive the popular evening of folk songs in Blhovce, which was held three times before the COVID-19 pandemic and always to great acclaim. Almost all of the region’s major singers took part – including Mónika Rigó, who came with her several-month-old baby at the time.
In addition to performing, Bélu is also intensively involved in promoting the viola as a solo instrument. “I know that the repertoire for viola is limited, but there are some exceptional works that I try to present in solo concerts.” In his hometown, he had the opportunity to perform in two profile concerts as part of the Musical Spring Festival, thanks to Eva Čarnok and Katalin Zsélyi. First with Ukrainian pianist Bohdan Koval, and two years later with Vladyslav Panchenko. They performed viola classics by Schumann and Brahms, but the last concert also included the composition For Bélu by Adam Hudec – a piece that was written especially for him.
“Although I was initially worried, today I like Bratislava very much – especially Petržalka. My neighbours don’t mind if I work out at home sometimes. And I have my own room in the radio building where I can practice anytime, especially before an important performance. My colleagues and I understand each other, everyone has their own rhythm, so we can harmonise without any problems,” says Bélu, who is increasingly thinking about starting a family. His parents would be very happy to have a grandchild.
“I have a 22-year-old girlfriend who is studying acting at college. Thanks to her parents, she is very close to music. The rest will remain a secret for now,” he adds with a smile as he hurries home – for there is a ball in honour of his grandfather tonight. And at such an event, Béla cannot be absent, nor can the band he has put together especially for the occasion.
This article is an English translation of an article by János Juhász Dosa. The original version was published on 28 March 2025 on Ma7. You can read it in its original version here.