“Did you know this little bronze pianist survived a Nazi labor camp?” I ask. This is the Seress Rezső Statue. It’s a small sculpture but it tells a big story. It’s right here on the wall of what was once the Kispipa restaurant. Seress Rezső the composer played here for years.
He composed Gloomy Sunday. It’s probably the most famous song ever written in Hungarian. Some even call it the Hungarian Suicide Song. Many versions exist including those by Billie Holiday and Elvis Costello. It was originally titled The World is Ending.
Seress never got rich from Gloomy Sunday. He never even left District VII except for forced labor during World War II. He played at the Kispipa until 1968. That’s the year he took his own life. The Kispipa closed in 2016 but reopened as a craft beer bar. They even have special Seress evenings.
Now look closely at the statue. It’s sculpted by Mihály Kolodko. He’s created many small sculptures around Budapest. They’re all hidden gems. Each one tells a unique story about Budapest’s history.
Seress was also a trapeze artist. Can you imagine? A one-handed pianist. He taught himself after an accident ended his career as a trapeze artist. He wrote many other songs. Some of his other hits include Waiter bring me the bill and I love being drunk.
This Seress Rezső Statue is more than just a tribute. It’s a reminder of a life lived fully despite hardship. It’s a small statue with a massive story. It’s a perfect encapsulation of Budapest’s resilience and artistic spirit. It’s a story you won’t forget.