December at the Opera means that holiday magic returns to the stage and to the square around the Erkel Theatre. The Christmas market in front of the theatre is open until the last day of the year. Inside, opera and ballet performances, charity programmes, and a special concert awaits audiences.
Internationally acclaimed Hungarian opera singer Ildikó Komlósi celebrates 35 years at the Hungarian State Opera. To mark the occasion, a special anniversary gala is organised at the Erkel Theatre featuring Hungarian soloists and guest star Italian tenor, Marco Berti as well as the artists of FlamenCorazónArte Dance Theatre and Varidance Ensemble. The concert programme includes a scene from Verdi’s Aida and highlights from Bizet’s Carmen.
Created to Maurice Ravel’s Bolero and the music of Steve Reich, Erik Satie and others, the choreographies of the 1st Steps show address facets of life that affect us all in the irresistibly thrilling language of dance of Hans van Manen, Johan Inger, Jiří Kylián and Alexander Ekman.
Many people seem to remember Ildikó Komlósi as having been on the stage from a very early age, from early on in her studies. The fact is, though, that she left plenty of time for years of training at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music and for maturing as an artist, and it was only in 1984 that she signed with the Hungarian State Opera. At the time, the institution was only operating at the Erkel Theatre, because the Opera House on Andrássy Avenue was undergoing renovations and would only reopen some months later, a situation that is similar to today’s. In the 35 years that have passed since then, the mezzo-soprano has made a fantastic career for herself, one that earned her the Kossuth Prize in 2016, although this recognition of her lifetime achievements should by no means be taken to indicate that the end is at hand.
The Opera House in Budapest is currently undergoing extensive restoration and modernisation. Until its reopening in 2021, our performances can be seen at the Erkel Theatre, the second venue of the Hungarian State Opera.
The Opera House in Budapest is currently undergoing extensive restoration and modernisation. Until its reopening in 2021, our performances can be seen at the Erkel Theatre, the second venue of the Hungarian State Opera.
Luigi Scoglio was born in Basel, Switzerland in 1973. He pursued his education in Italy, first in the goldsmithing department of the Istituto Statale d'Arte Ernesto Basile in the Sicilian city of Messina, and later studied set design at the the Accademia di Belle Arte di Urbino. He currently works as a set designer for the stage, film and advertising, both in Italy and abroad. Since 1999, he has collaborated as a set designer with opera and theatre companies, theatre directors (including Luca Ronconi, Michał Znaniecki, Mario Corradi, Rosetta Cucchi, Italo Nunziata, Fabrizio Crisafulli, Anne Riitte Ciccone, Denis Krief, Patricia Panton, Giorgio Rossi, Paolo De Falco and Natalia Babińska), and other artists, both Italian and international, in the genres of opera, spoken-word drama, experimental theatre, dance theatre and musical theatre. He has developed a fruitful artistic partnership with director Michał Znaniecki, joining him for his most important opera and drama productions both across Europe and around the world. He has also been involved in video and photography installations and in creating the visual design for art exhibitions and shows and events related to a specific set design. In 2010, his work on the musical The Producers earned him a nomination for Poland's award for “best production designer” (Teatr Rozrywki – Chorzów). In 2011, he and his entire creative crew shared a prestigious Spanish top prize for best opera production for Onegin (in a co-production with Opera Krakowska). His past project include The Producers, Ernani, The Fairy Queen, Onegin, Candide, King Roger, Our House, The Love for Three Oranges, Billy Elliot – The Musical, La traviata (Poland), Ernani, Onegin (Spain), Candide, Onegin, Il trovatore (Italy), Ernani, La traviata, Un ballo in maschera, Carmina Burana, Il trovatore (Israel), Onegin, Hagith, The Fairy Queen, The Tempest (Argentina). At the Hungarian State Opera, he designed the sets for Faust and The Spinning Room.