Klára Kolonits and Orsolya Sáfár, as well as Gergely Boncsér and Szabolcs Brickner are joined on stage by Ildikó Megyimórecz and Barna Bartos in the Hungarian State Opera’s summer run of Verdi’s La traviata, presented between 20 June and 9 July 2026. The ensembles of the Hungarian State Opera are conducted by Zsolt Hamar and Levente Török.
What is love worth when society condemns it? Can human dignity be preserved if happiness must be sacrificed for its sake? And can a mistake be redeemed when the admission comes too late? Inspired by Alexandre Dumas fils’s novel La Dame aux Camélias, Verdi’s La traviata tells the story of the courtesan Violetta Valéry, who is forced to renounce her love for Alfredo and endure humiliation so that his family may preserve its social standing. Verdi’s score portrays both the emotional world of its protagonists with extraordinary sensitivity and the Parisian milieu in which the story unfolds. The latter is exemplified by the famous Brindisi, whose melodies are familiar even to those with little knowledge of opera. Ferenc Anger’s elegant and timeless 2016 production, which celebrates its 50th performance on 26 June, places greater emphasis on the psychological dimensions of the work through the symbolism of objects and costumes, while balancing the drama with everyday moments drawn from real life.
Returning in the role of Violetta is Kossuth Prize-winning Chamber Singer Klára Kolonits, for whom Verdi’s heroine has been a signature role for two decades, performed not only in Budapest but also on numerous European opera stages. Also returning are Chamber Singer Orsolya Sáfár and Ildikó Megyimórecz, who made her role debut in 2025 at the Erkel Theatre. Their partners as Alfredo are Chamber Singers Gergely Boncsér and Szabolcs Brickner, both of whom have been central figures in the OPERA's La traviata performances for more than a decade. Joining them this year is Barna Bartos, who makes his role debut. Following his success as the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto, the young tenor from Transylvania now has the opportunity to demonstrate his artistry in another major Verdi role.
The role of Giorgio Germont is performed by two internationally renowned baritones of the Hungarian State Opera: Alexandru Agache and Kossuth Prize-winning Chamber Singer Mihály Kálmándy, an eternal member and master artist of the Opera House. Both have spent decades performing Verdi’s celebrated father figure on stages around the world. Further roles are performed by Viktória Mester (Flora), Anna Csenge Fürjes (Annina), Artúr Szeleczki (Gaston), Antal Cseh (Baron Douphol), Attila Dobák (Marquis d’Obigny), and Géza Gábor (Doctor Grenvil). Students of the Hungarian University of Dance and the Ágnes Nemes Nagy Secondary School of Arts also take part in the production.
Both conductors leading the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra and Chorus conduct Verdi’s opera for the first time in the Ybl Palace on Andrássy Avenue. Zsolt Hamar, Liszt Prize-winning conductor and Meritorious Artist, has previously conducted La traviata in Lisbon and as General Music Director of the Wiesbaden State Theatre. Representing a younger generation of conductors, Levente Török conducted the work in Austria at the Oper Burg Gars Festival in 2025 with soloists from the Vienna State Opera.
Verdi’s La traviata is performed eleven times during its summer run at the Hungarian State Opera: on 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, and 30 June, as well as on 2, 4, 7, and 9 July 2026.
Photo by Valter Berecz
