Péter Kálmán arrives straight from the stage of the New York Metropolitan to perform in the concert version of Donizetti’s comic opera Don Pasquale, which audiences at the Opera House can experience on a single occasion, on 19 November 2025. The performance, offered at discounted ticket prices, also features Zsolt Haja, István Horváth, Zita Szemere, and Attila Erdős, with the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Levente Török.
The OPERA IC (Iron Curtain) audiophile series presents popular operas performed in concert form on rehearsal days, in front of the lowered iron curtain. These productions, which are not staged during the given season, offer exceptional opportunities for internationally acclaimed Hungarian soloists to showcase their talent. Audiences can attend with tickets offered at a 20% discount compared to standard prices. The new series is launched following the positive experiences of recent vocal concerts held in front of the iron curtain, where the excellent acoustic conditions further enhanced the musical experience. Organisers hope that this initiative will bring a new colour to the diverse repertoire of the Hungarian State Opera.
The first work of the introductory season is Donizetti’s comic opera Don Pasquale, which was performed to sold-out audiences in August in a staged version directed by Csaba Káel. This time, the whimsical old bachelor eager to marry will be portrayed by Péter Kálmán. The internationally renowned bass-baritone, known for his excellent comic talent, will not appear in any staged productions at the Opera House this year due to his busy international schedule. However, he will revisit one of his frequent roles for this single occasion, right after the conclusion of La fille du régiment series at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in early November, where he performs as Sulpice, following his debut as Bartolo in Il barbiere in Seville earlier in May. His partners in the production are the outstanding artists of the summer performance: Zsolt Haja (Malatesta), who also gave a memorable performance in Péter Eötvös’s Valuska recently; István Horváth (Ernesto), Kammersänger of the 2024/25 season; the versatile Zita Szemere (Norina), and Attila Erdős (Carlotto), an excellent interpreter of character roles. The Hungarian State Opera Orchestra and Chorus are conducted by Levente Török, one of the prominent figures of the young generation of conductors.
