Xavier Sabata is one of the most outstanding contra tenors of 21st century. The Catalan singer first performed at the Hungarian State Opera in the season of 2014/15 in Vivaldi’s Farnace. He is going to hold his master class between 7 and 10 December in the Bertalan Székely Hall in the Hungarian State Opera.
In the next part of the series, on 7 November, 2015, Ingrid Kertesi awaits fans with Italian baroque and French impressionit songs.
In October 2015, following an extensive restoration work, a brand new Opera Shop and Opera Cafe have opened to the public.
At the weekend of 24 & 25 October 2015, the Hungarian State Opera presents two new productions at the Opera House and the Erkel Theatre.
In collaboration with Hungary's greatest ensembles working to preserve the country's folk dance traditions, the Hungarian State Opera has launched a new series entitled Thundering Nights at the Erkel: Folk Dance Programmes in Hungary's Largest Theatre, in which the Hungarian National Dance Ensemble, the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble and the Duna Art Ensemble each take turns on the stage of the storied theatre. The Hungarian National Dance Ensemble will be kicking off the series with two performances of a production scheduled for 27 and 28 October.
12 March, 2016: The German Lied and its effect on Béla Bartók – Éva Bátori’s song recital to mark the 70th anniversary of Bartók’s death
The first premiere of the Opera House, Verdi's Otello is directed by internationally acclaimed director Stefano Poda.
The first premiere at the Erkel Theatre is Leonard Bernstein’s legendary musical, West Side Story directed by Péter Novák and featuring Erika Miklósa and Gergely Boncsér in the main roles on 11 September 2015. Bernstein’s classic composition in Péter Novák’s new production that combines operatic voices with dance theatre elements is a perfect beginning of the Shakespeare season of the Hungarian State Opera.
It is the third time for the Hungarian State Opera to prove that the genre of opera is for everyone. Following the success of the previous two years, a personage no smaller than William Shakespeare is to help the artists of the Opera as the next season is dedicated to the memory of the English playwright.
On 6 February, 2016 the special guest star of the Shakespeare Ball organized by the Hungarian State Opera is Plácido Domingo. One important feature of the ball revived in 2014 is that the greatest figures of the world of opera and ballet are invited to this exclusive event. The appearance of Domingo is extraordinary as it is the first time this significant personality of the classical music scene of the 20th and 21st centuries sings on the stage of the Opera House.
The most prestigious awards were presented to three opera singers, a ballet dancer and a member of the orchestra on 29 June, 2016 on the stage of the Erkel Theatre. The Chamber Singer for the 2015/16 season are Eszter Sümegi, Ildikó Komlósi and István Kovácsházi. Chamber Artist is cellist Endre Balog, the Étoile title was awarded to ballerina Lili Felméry.
The Night of Stars gala is a spectacular show to celebrate the best moments of the past season: the stage is graced by the greatest of the great, as well as the most promising young performers at the Erkel Theatre on 29 June from 7 p.m. The event is screened at St Stephen's Basilica in front of several thousand people in what is one of the summer's top free events. A collection is made by employees of Hungarian Interchurch Aid to assist disaster victims in Hungary. During the gala the recipients of the prestigious Chamber Singer, Etoile and Chamber Artist awards are announced.