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.
Born in Budapest in 1968, István Silló commenced his studies at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in 1986 under the guidance of such noted masters as Rita Wagner, Kálmán Záborszky, Igor Lenke, Gábor Ugrin, Ervin Lukács, András Mihály, Imre Földes and Tamás Gál. During his studies, he served as répétiteur of the Béla Bartók Conservatory of Music's voice department from 1987-1988, and from 1988-1990 of the academy's clarinet department. Between 1986 and 1990 he was a regular auxiliary member of the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, where he worked with Lamberto Gardelli, Eric Ericson, András Ligeti and Kobayashi Ken-Ichiro, among others. He served as music director of the József Attila Theatre from 1990 before filling the same post at the Budapest Chamber Theatre between 1993 and 1996. In parallel with this, he was a lecturer at the University of Theatre and Film Arts from 1990, and was appointed professor later on. From 1996 to 2008 he was conductor of the Budapest Operetta Theatre. During this time, he took the podium on more than one thousand evenings and served as music director for countless premieres. Among the works he is associated with is the world premiere of Ferenc 'Fegya' Jávori's Wedding Dance, which won him the Artisjus Award for the high-quality performance of contemporary Hungarian music. He works with several of Hungary's orchestras, including the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Győr Philharmonic Orchestra, the Pannon Philharmonic and the Szeged Symphony Orchestra. Since 2005 he has been a recurring guest at the Szeged Open-Air Festival. He has appeared as a guest conductor in Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, Italy, Japan, China, Russia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam and South Korea.