On 14 February 2021, soprano Eszter Zavaros and baritone Róbert Rezsnyák presented a Valentine's Day aria recital compiled of popular arias from 18th and 19th century operas. The performance was streamed from 8:00 p.m. on Facebook and Origo.hu.
Soprano Eszter Zavaros was 17 years old when she began private studies as a soloist. Later, she was admitted to the Music Academy's vocal pedagogy department, winning a spot while already studying for an arts degree. She completed the programme in 2010. She won top prizes at a number of singing competitions, including an honourable mention at the 2008 József Simándy Singing Competition. She made her debut at the Hungarian State Opera in 2013 in a supporting role in Rigoletto, which was followed by more major roles in operas by Mozart, Donizetti, Puccini, R. Strauss and Goldmark. Her repertoire also includes grand operettas, contemporary compositions an rarities. In 2015, she received the award as the best newcomer established by Dr. and Mrs. Andor Mándi.
Baritone Róbert Rezsnyák obtained his diploma in solo voice and voice pedagogy from the Ferenc Liszt Music Academy in 2003 and graduated as an opera singer a year later. Since then he has been a regular soloist of the Hungarian State Opera. He also took part in masterclasses organised by such renowned personalities as Éva Marton or Nicholas Clapton, and he won a scholarship with the Wagner Society to Bayreuth in 2003. His repertoire ranges from operas by Mozart, Rossini and Donizetti through romantic pieces to contemporary pieces. He is a frequent soloist of oratorios and song recitals as well.
Artistic director of the performance: Orsolya Magyar
Pianist: László Bartal
Hosted by Dániel Mona
Programme:
Mozart: Don Giovanni – Zerlina's aria from Act 1 ("Batti, batti, o bel Masetto") – Eszter Zavaros
Erkel: Bánk Bán – Petúr's drinking song from Act 1 ("Ha férfi lelkedet egy hölgyre feltevéd") – Róbert Rezsnyák
Leoncavallo: Pagliacci – Nedda's aria ("Qual fiamma avea nel guardo!") – Eszter Zavaros
Gounod: Faust – Valentin's prayer from Act 2 ("Avant de quitter ces lieux") – Róbert Rezsnyák
Puccini: La bohème – Musetta's waltz from Act 2 ("Quando me’n vo") – Eszter Zavaros
Wagner: Tannhäuser – Wolfram's aria from Act 3 ("O du, mein holder Abendstern") – Róbert Rezsnyák
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte – Papageno and Papagena's duet from Act 2 ("Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Papagena") – Eszter Zavaros and Róbert Rezsnyák
The performance can be viewed HERE.
Photo by János Kummer