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.
Opera singer, general director, eternal memberbass
Endre Ütő was born in Budapest in 1937. After earning his degree, under Andor Lenvai, in the voice department of the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music between 1957 and 1964, he went on to continue his music studies at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome. Under the guidance of Giorgio Favaretto, he won two singing competitions (one in Munich, the other in Reggio Emilia) and also got the chance to sing together with Luciano Pavarotti, who was then at the start of his career. From 1963 to 1996, he sang bass as a soloist with the Hungarian State Opera, and also served as the institution's general director between 1991 and 1996. As a soloist, he had the opportunity to sing many of the bass roles from the opera repertoire (his more than 50 roles included Méphistophélès, Prince Gremin, Ramfis, Bluebeard, Timur, Sparafucile and Colline). Under his stewardship, the Opera revived the Ring cycle, Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle and ballets, with set designs by Imre Makovecz. Also during his tenure, the Society of Young Friends of the Opera was established within the institution, and the Opera's entire ensemble of singers collectively received the Bartók Award. He was also involved with the establishment of the Opera Studio, which prepares young artists for performing on stage. At his and László Külkey's initiative, the Budapest Society of Friends of the Opera was re-established in 1991. In addition, he was a founder of both the Budapest Society of Friends of the Opera Foundation, which organised concerts featuring artists from the United States, Germany, Italy and France, and the Pro Opera Lirica Foundation, which rewarded young artists for their work. The latter fund includes among its winners Zsuzsanna Bazsinka, Erika Miklósa, Katalin Szendrényi, Andrea Ulbrich, László Szvétek and Andrea Meláth. Awarded the Ferenc Liszt Award in 1971, the Mihály Székely Commemorative Plaque in 1972 and the Middle Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary in 2014, he was also named an Artist of Merit in 2017.