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.
In the 2020/2021 season, the Hungarian State Opera once again concentrates on the opera tradition of a certain nation. We have already had German, Italian and Hungarian themed seasons, now it is time for the French Muse Season. In recent years, works by several French composers – including Massenet, Offenbach, Poulenc, Saint-Saëns – found their way into the repertoire as well as with operas such as Les Huguenots based on French history. These will all return to our stages and most of the new opera and ballet productions will also focus on French culture along with the numerous galas, symphonic concerts and guest performances.
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.
Mária Uzoni served the Hungarian State Opera for 32 years, starting in 1984. Succumbing to her affinity for the genre of opera and classical music, she abandoned her teaching career and signed with the institution as an audience developer. Her skills and attributes, however, soon led her in a different direction, and in 1989 she was appointed protocol secretary. She continued to exploit her organisational skills in this new role, since for nearly thirty years she arranged and supervised the season openers and award ceremonies of the Opera House and the Erkel Theatre, as well as the banquet of the Eternal Members and Master Artists of the Opera, small receptions in honour of high-ranking protocol guests coming into contact with whoever the general director of the day was, larger ones held on stage after premieres and memorial events for deceased Kossuth Prize-winning artists. Her patience, infinite empathy and understanding of protocol have all contributed throughout to both active and retired artists, the various musical foundations and the Opera itself maintaining a harmonic relationship with the various foreign embassies and consulates. She left the institution in 2016, as chief protocol officer, and has been an eternal member of the Opera since 2017.