Ailyn Pérez, a star of New York’s Metropolitan Opera, and Vladislav Sulimsky, a leading singer of the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, will appear on the stage of the Opera House for the first time in the series of performances of Tosca, running from 7 to 24 February 2026. In Puccini’s opera, alongside the international guest artists, Horti Lilla, Szabolcs Brickner, and Károly Szemerédy will also make their debuts in leading roles. The performances will be conducted by Gergely Kesselyák. In addition to the nearly sold-out performances, the OPERA has announced an additional new date on 17 February.
A political thriller, a love tragedy and a historical drama: Tosca is a chamber drama about Tosca, a singer in love in search of happiness, Cavaradossi, a painter fighting against oppression, and Baron Scarpia, the ruthless chief of police who stands in the way of their love. In Puccini’s tension-filled, powerfully moving composition, the work is able to touch even those who would otherwise feel distant from the operatic genre.
Set at the dawn of the Napoleonic Wars, the story is relocated in the 2022 production by Dr Szilveszter Ókovács to Budapest in the 1950s: the outward trappings of the occupied Roman Republic are replaced by the suffocating atmosphere of the communist dictatorship. The era’s emblematic locations and costumes are evoked by designs by Krisztina Lisztopád, within a stage environment accompanied by projections by Zsombor Czeglédi.
Appearing on stage in Hungary and at the Opera House for the first time is the American soprano Ailyn Pérez, well known from MET broadcasts, who has dominated the stage this season at London’s Covent Garden in the title role. She will also portray Puccini’s heroine in Munich in the spring, while singing Madama Butterfly in New York and making her debut as Aida in Dresden. Scarpia is sung by the Mariinsky Theatre’s Belarusian baritone Vladislav Sulimsky, also appearing in Budapest for the first time, who in recent months has performed Macbeth in Salzburg and Nabucco in Munich, appeared in The Maid of Orleans in Amsterdam alongside Gábor Bretz, and will also take on Tosca’s adversary at the prestigious Glyndebourne Festival in the summer.
From the best Hungarian soloists, Lilla Horti also makes her debut as Tosca, adding another heroine to her Puccini repertoire after Mimì in La bohème. Cavaradossi is sung by the OPERA’s Kammersänger Szabolcs Brickner, who has earned acclaim for his portrayals of Rodolfo (La bohème) and Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly), and who made a highly successful debut in the title role of Wagner’s Lohengrin this season. Károly Szemerédy sings Scarpia for the first time, having previously appeared in Puccini roles as Sharpless (Madama Butterfly) and Marcel (Il tabarro). Returning from the 2022 premiere are Zsuzsanna Ádám (Tosca) and Kammersänger Boldizsár László (Cavaradossi), the latter revisiting another of his major successes shortly after an impressive Aida series. Angelotti is portrayed for the first time by Bence Pataki, who has previously appeared in La bohème, Schicchi 2.0, and La fanciulla del West. András Kiss has sung the Sacristan since the premiere, while the young bass Boldizsár Zajkás makes his debut as Sciarrone and the Jailer.
The Hungarian State Opera Orchestra, Chorus (chorus director: Gábor Csiki), and Children’s Chorus (chorus director: Nikolett Hajzer) are conducted by Gergely Kesselyák, chamber artist of the season, who brings more than a quarter of a century of experience in interpreting Puccini’s work.
Tosca will be performed eight times during the season at the Hungarian State Opera House, on 7 February, 8 February (matinee), 11 February, 12 February, 14 February, 15 February (matinee), 17 February and 24 February 2026.
Photos by Solomon Howard / E. Afonina
