Magyar Állami Operaház – Nutcracker Festival 2019

Nutcracker Festival 2019 – Advent at the Erkel Theatre

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.

Adults and children who love yuletide treats are invited to gather round the Erkel Theatre. Once again, there will be choral performances each evening outside the building. With charity in mind, wine will be mulled once again, chestnuts will be freshly roasted, the Opera Shop will be open inside the theatre, where exclusive publications, CDs and DVDs and music-themed books are also available. All proceeds from the performances will go to Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA). Leading artists from the Opera will be serving and selling the products in the huts, while anyone will be able to have their photo taken with the enormous Nutcracker doll.

Our legendary ballet production, The Nutcracker was unchanged since 1950, was renewed four years ago, for technical reasons, the audience will once again see Gusztáv Oláh’s old set, but the new choreography by Wayne Eagling and Tamás Solymosi with Nóra Romhányi’s new costumes at the Erkel Theatre between 29 November 2019 and 6 January 2020.

Photos by Szilvia Csibi and Valter Berecz

Additional news

OperaVision celebrates Mozart!

A Magyar Állami Operaház partnere, az európai internetes operaközvetítések platformja, az OperaVision április 17-ig hét Mozart-operát tesz elérhetővé weboldalán.

All performances cancelled due to coronavirus

In accordance with the guidelines issued by the Government of Hungary on 11 March 2020, all performances at the Hungarian State Opera are cancelled until further notice.

Rebel against a Spanish tyrant: Laurencia premieres at the Erkel Theatre

The Hungarian National Ballet presents a new Laurencia production choreographed by Michael Messerer on 6 March 2020. The production that can be seen seven times this season aims to enchant audiences with spectacular solo dances, duets and ensembles.

The Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb comes to Budapest

Ero the Joker, a comic opera by Jakov Gotovac and Death in Venice, a dance performance by Valentina Turcu can be seen at the Erkel Theatre on 21 and 23 January 2020. The guest performances of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb are organised under the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The Hungarian State Opera announces the French Muse Season 2020/21

19 premieres, including two world and three Hungarian premieres, are featured in the 2020/21 thematic season of the Hungarian State Opera dedicated to the French Muse. After a hiatus of decades, Les contes d'Hoffmann, La fille du régiment and Flammes de Paris will return to the repertoire, but new productions of Carmen and Andrea Chénier. The second test run of the Eiffel Art Studios, the new venue of the Opera will begin on 7 February 2020.

Händel and Mozart's Messiah at the Hungarian State Opera

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.

Komlósi35 – anniversary gala concert of the renowned mezzo-soprano at the Erkel Theatre

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.

1st Steps – the new Hungarian National Ballet show

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.

2 for 1 offers at the Erkel Theatre

Buy two tickets online for the price of one for the final Erkel Theatre performances of Billy Elliot – the Musical and the new ballet show, 1st Steps.

L'oca del Cairo, ossia Lo sposo deluso premieres on OperaVision

The Hungarian State Opera returns to the platform of OperaVision on 21 June 2019 with a rarity: the recent world premiere production of L’oca del Cairo, ossia Lo sposo deluso created from two fragments by Mozart will be available for six months.