The Faust225 Festival that started on 17 May at the Hungarian State Opera hosted 20,000 visitors over 17 days.
The performances of the grandiose series played to packed houses every time. The programme featured five different opera productions and a gala concert. The first of the two premieres, Faust by Gounod was produced by an international creative team, directed by Michał Znaniecki, conducted by Maurizio Benini. Busoni's Doktor Faust was staged in Hungary for the first time by Máté Szabó, conducted by Gergely Vajda. The concluding piece of the Festival was another Hungarian premiere: a concert version of Szenen aus Goethes Faust by Schumann featured international and Hungarian cast, and was conducted by Michael Schønwandt.
The Festival featured the repertoire piece Mefistofele by Boito directed by Balázs Kovalik and conducted by Carlo Montanaro. Two new productions of the season also featured in the Festival. With a new international star in the title role and conductor Domonkos Héja, Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress was directed by Ferenc Anger. Der Freischütz by Weber in the staging of Sándor Zsótér moved to the Opera House from the Erkel. It was conducted by Péter Halász.
As a bonus programme, international star tenor Juan Diego Flórez gave an aria recital under the baton of Christopher Franklin. It was his first time to performa Faust's aria from Gounod's opera.
The May Celebration of the next operatic season focuses on the adaptations of works by William Shakespeare on the 400th anniversary of his death. A wider selection is offered than ever: 17 different programmes await vistors such as Hungarian premieres, ballet performances, concerts and a star gala concert. The Festival will take place in four different venues: apart from the Opera House, the Erkel Theatre, the Palace of Arts, and the Music Academy will all have something to offer. The programmes will feature international cast and creative teams as well as Hungarian guest ensembles. The crowning event of the Festival is the aria recital of Welsh star bariton Bryn Terfel.
For the programme of the Shakespeare400+ Festival click on the image below.
