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.
Created to Maurice Ravel’s Bolero and the music of Steve Reich, Erik Satie and others, the choreographies of the 1st Steps show address facets of life that affect us all in the irresistibly thrilling language of dance of Hans van Manen, Johan Inger, Jiří Kylián and Alexander Ekman.
Many people seem to remember Ildikó Komlósi as having been on the stage from a very early age, from early on in her studies. The fact is, though, that she left plenty of time for years of training at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music and for maturing as an artist, and it was only in 1984 that she signed with the Hungarian State Opera. At the time, the institution was only operating at the Erkel Theatre, because the Opera House on Andrássy Avenue was undergoing renovations and would only reopen some months later, a situation that is similar to today’s. In the 35 years that have passed since then, the mezzo-soprano has made a fantastic career for herself, one that earned her the Kossuth Prize in 2016, although this recognition of her lifetime achievements should by no means be taken to indicate that the end is at hand.
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.
Csaba Sebestyén graduated from the Hungarian State Ballet Institute in 1980, after studying under József Forgách. In 2000, he earned a degree qualifying as a dance teacher of classical ballet, and later graduated from the choreography course at the University of Theatre and Film Arts in 2007. His first position was at the Ballet Company of Győr, where he worked as a soloist, an assistant and as a coaching ballet master. He performed in the ensemble's repertoire productions, and also danced in all of its guest appearances abroad, taking the stage in the United States, India, Japan, China, Germany, Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, England, Israel, Austria, South Korea, Finland, Russia, Poland and Czechoslovakia. In 1991, he became deputy head of the corps de ballet at the Madách Theatre. This job was followed by a series of assignments: first as ballet master for the corps de ballet at the Budapest Chamber Theatre and Central European Dance Theatre, then as ballet master at the Budapest Opera Theatre and as choreographer at the National Theatre. He started teaching classical ballet at the Ballet Company of Győr's school of art in 1984. In 1993, he began instructing students at the University of Theatre and Film Arts as part of their musical training. He started his teaching work at the Hungarian Academy of Dance in 1994, first as a teacher of arts, then as an assistant lecturer, and later on as a senior lecturer. He has been an associate professor there since 2003. He regularly works with both Hungarian and international students, and also enjoys assisting with the professional development of younger instructors. He serves on the board of both the Hungarian Association of Modern Dance Groups and the Hungarian Dance Show Association, where he is involved in training dance instructors and coaches, as well as acting as a judge and jury chairman at competitions. He holds professional courses for the artists of Ballet Pécs and the dance department of the National Theatre of Miskolc. His work has been recognised with numerous honours: in 2003 he was decorated with the Silver Cross of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, and he also received the Gyula Harangozó Award in 2006. In the course of his work as a choreographer, he has worked together with László Vámos, István Iglódi, János Ács, Attila Vidnyánszky, Miklós Szinetár, Viktor Nagy and numerous other directors. Collaborating with them, he has created the choreographies for numerous pieces of music and musicals both in Budapest and in many cities around the country. Since 2007, he has been the choreographer for the New Year's programme “Music Without Borders” broadcast live on M1 and Duna Television.