
Gabriella Balga
Opera singer, Chamber Singer of the Hungarian State Opera (2019/2020)
lyric/coloratura mezzo-soprano
Gabriella Balga first attended music school in Nagykürtös (Veľký Krtíš) and later in Ipolyság (Šahy), starting as a soprano at age 7 before switching to the alto recorder, which from age 12 she continued to study alongside pursuing the classical solo voice programme. Her first singing teacher was Angéla Michňa. As a child, she frequently participated in folk song competitions, achieving outstanding results. After studying at the Fegyverneki Ferenc Catholic High School in Ipolyság, she attended the solo voice programme a the Pikéthy Tibor High School of Music in Vác under the tutelage of Ilona Bakonyi. In 2005, she enrolled at Budapest's Béla Bartók High School of music, where her voice teacher was Mária Fekete. In 2008, she gained admission to the classical voice course at the Ference Liszt Academy of Music, where she earned a bachelor's degree (2008-2011) in classical voice and a master's degree (2011-2013) in opera voice under senior professor Éva Marton, while the opera programme was headed by director András Almási-Tóth. Serving as her voice teacher throughout her university years was Júlia Pásthy, with whom she continues to work. Between 2012 and 2013, she earned a degree in opera voice pedagogy under senior professor Katalin Halmai. She has participated in master classes held by Walter Moore, Nicholas Clapton, Yevgeny Nesterenko, Gwynne Geyer, Béla Perencz and Ildikó Komlósi.
She has been a soloist with the Hungarian State Opera since 2012, making her debut there in the role of Mátyás Hunyadi in Ferenc Erkel's opera Hunyadi László, with a CD recording also being made of its original version. In addition to playing minor characters, she also sings principal roles such as Rosina (in Il barbiere di Siviglia, including in the Opera's 2015 tour of Japan) and Dorabella (in Così fan tutte). She regularly makes guest appearances both abroad and in the theatres of Hungarian cities outside of Budapest. She has partnered with such illustrious singers as Andrea Rost, Eszter Sümegi and Erika Miklósa, and has also received the opportunity to work with conductors like Zoltán Kocsis, Tamás Vásáry, Gábor Takács Nagy, Bertrand de Billy, Pinchas Steinberg, Stefan Soltész, Douglas Boyd, Péter Halász, Gergely Kesselyák and János Kovács. In addition to her opera repertoire, she also readily sings oratorios and gives song recitals.
She is the winner of several international singing competitions and of numerous scholarships and awards. In 2010, she received the Ari Kupsus Stipendium, an award for talented students at the Liszt Academy. In 2011, she took second place at the József Simándy International Singing Competition and first place at the Iuventus Canti International Singing Competition, in addition to winning the prize for best performer. 2012 saw her win the Gundel Award and the Ari Kupsus “Dream” award for outstanding achievement by a talented young singer studying at the music academy. Also in 2012, she received the prize established by Mr and Mrs Andor Mándy, which recognises outstanding achievement on the part of young singers working at the Opera. In 2013, the Wagner Society bestowed its Bayreuth scholarship on her, and she took first place at the Jakub Pustina International Singing Competition in 2015.
Performances
November 24. 16:00
contemporary
opera
16
rehearsal
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG
November 26. 16:00
contemporary
opera
16
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG
November 29. 16:00
contemporary
opera
16
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG
December 17. 19:00
concert
14
DER MESSIAS (MESSIAH) – concert
December 18. 19:00
concert
14
DER MESSIAS (MESSIAH) – concert
December 21. 20:00
concert
14
DER MESSIAS (MESSIAH) – staged oratorio
December 24. 11:00
concert
14
DER MESSIAS (MESSIAH) – staged oratorio
December 28. 19:00
concert
14
DER MESSIAS (MESSIAH) – staged oratorio
January 7. 11:00
concert
14
DER MESSIAS (MESSIAH) – staged oratorio
January 14. 11:00
concert
14
DER MESSIAS (MESSIAH) – staged oratorio
March 10. 20:00
mixed
opera
14
premiere
FANTASIO & FORTUNIO
March 12. 11:00
mixed
opera
14
FANTASIO & FORTUNIO
March 17. 20:00
mixed
opera
14
FANTASIO & FORTUNIO
March 19. 19:00
mixed
opera
14
FANTASIO & FORTUNIO
March 25. 19:00
mixed
opera
14
FANTASIO & FORTUNIO
April 20. 18:00
mixed
opera
8
rehearsal
STEPHEN, THE KING – MVM OperAdventure

April 26. 19:00
mixed
opera
8
STEPHEN, THE KING
April 30. 19:00
mixed
opera
8
STEPHEN, THE KING
May 7. 11:00
mixed
opera
8
STEPHEN, THE KING
May 11. 18:00
contemporary
opera
18
rehearsal
IDOMENEO, RE DI CRETA
May 13. 19:00
contemporary
opera
18
premiere
IDOMENEO, RE DI CRETA
May 16. 19:00
contemporary
opera
18
IDOMENEO, RE DI CRETA
May 18. 19:00
contemporary
opera
18
IDOMENEO, RE DI CRETA
May 21. 19:00
contemporary
opera
18
IDOMENEO, RE DI CRETA
May 25. 19:00
contemporary
opera
18
IDOMENEO, RE DI CRETA
May 28. 11:00
contemporary
opera
18
IDOMENEO, RE DI CRETA
May 31. 19:00
mixed
opera
8
STEPHEN, THE KING
June 1. 19:00
contemporary
opera
18
IDOMENEO, RE DI CRETA
June 11. 19:00
contemporary
opera
18
premiere
LA FINTA GIARDINIERA (THE PRETEND GARDEN-GIRL)
June 15. 18:00
contemporary
opera
18
rehearsal
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS
June 16. 20:00
contemporary
opera
18
LA FINTA GIARDINIERA (THE PRETEND GARDEN-GIRL)
June 17. 19:00
contemporary
opera
18
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS
June 21. 19:00
contemporary
opera
18
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS
June 23. 19:00
contemporary
opera
18
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS
June 25. 11:00
contemporary
opera
18
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS
June 28. 19:00
contemporary
opera
18
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS
June 30. 19:00
contemporary
opera
18