For the first time in its history, the Hungarian State Opera produces a staged version of Hädel's masterpiece. Mozart's revised version directed by Ferenc Anger premieres on 20 December 2019 at the Erkel Theatre. Soloists of the four Christmas performances are Rita Rácz, Atala Schöck, István Horváth and Krisztián Cser. The Hungarian State Opera Orchestra is conducted by Gergely Kesselyák.
December at the Opera means that holiday magic returns to the stage and to the square around the Erkel Theatre. The Christmas market in front of the theatre is open until the last day of the year. Inside, opera and ballet performances, charity programmes, and a special concert awaits audiences.
Internationally acclaimed Hungarian opera singer Ildikó Komlósi celebrates 35 years at the Hungarian State Opera. To mark the occasion, a special anniversary gala is organised at the Erkel Theatre featuring Hungarian soloists and guest star Italian tenor, Marco Berti as well as the artists of FlamenCorazónArte Dance Theatre and Varidance Ensemble. The concert programme includes a scene from Verdi’s Aida and highlights from Bizet’s Carmen.
In the 2020/2021 season, the Hungarian State Opera once again concentrates on the opera tradition of a certain nation. We have already had German, Italian and Hungarian themed seasons, now it is time for the French Muse Season. In recent years, works by several French composers – including Massenet, Offenbach, Poulenc, Saint-Saëns – found their way into the repertoire as well as with operas such as Les Huguenots based on French history. These will all return to our stages and most of the new opera and ballet productions will also focus on French culture along with the numerous galas, symphonic concerts and guest performances.
The Opera House in Budapest is currently undergoing extensive restoration and modernisation. Until its reopening in 2021, our performances can be seen at the Erkel Theatre, the second venue of the Hungarian State Opera.
The Opera House in Budapest is currently undergoing extensive restoration and modernisation. Until its reopening in 2021, our performances can be seen at the Erkel Theatre, the second venue of the Hungarian State Opera.
László Dés was born in Budapest in 1954. He attended the Zoltán Kodály School of Voice and Music and later studied piano. He continued his music education at the Béla Bartók Conservatory, where he studied clarinet (1971-1973), and then in saxophone in the jazz department of the Ferenc Liszt Music Academy (1973-1976). He participated in many music groups throughout the '70s both as a founder and member, including Dimenzió I, the Supergroup, Dimenzió II, the Budapest Big Band, Trio Stendhal, Jazz+Az and the Dés Septet. Together with his various ensembles, he appeared at numerous jazz festivals, including in Újvidék (Novi Sad), Wrocław, the Swedish city of Umeå, Pozsony (Bratislva), New Delhi, Bombay, Bangalore, Innsbruck, the Finnish town of Kajaani, Paris and Berlin. He has received numerous awards and recognitions over the course of his career, including the eMeRTon Award (1988) the Ferenc Liszt Awar (1991), the Film Critics' Award for best film music of the year (1994, for his work on Sose halunk meg [“We Never Die”] and Anna filmje [“Anna's Film”]), the Golden Giraffe Award presented by the Association of Hungarian Record Companies (1994, 1999, 2000, 2001), the Artisjus Jenő Huszka Award (1994, 1995), the Theatre Critics' Award for best musical piece (1996, for The Jungle Book), the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (1996), the Pro Budapest award, the Hungarian Jazz Award (2003) and the Kossuth Prize (2007), and was also named an Artist of Merit in 2003.