Verdi’s monumental opera Aida returns to the repertoire of the Hungarian State Opera, starring Eszter Sümegi and Csilla Boross in the title role. Adorján Pataki sings the role of Radamès at the Opera House for the first time, while principal conductor Martin Rajna also conducts the work for the first time. The large-scale production featuring a 110-member choir, a 70-piece orchestra with 20 onstage musicians, 50 extras, and two dozen ballet dancers is performed between 24 January and 3 February 2026, directed by János Mohácsi with choreography by Johanna Bodor.
The tragic love story of an Ethiopian slave woman abducted by the enemy, who conceals her royal rank, and an Egyptian military commander who emerges victorious from battle only to become a traitor through intrigue has captivated the imagination of audiences around the world, including in Hungary, for more than a century and a half. Aida’s sincere and pure feelings are mercilessly exploited by Amneris, the Pharaoh’s jealous daughter, and by Amonasro, the King of Ethiopia. The enslaved princess and her beloved Radamès are both caught in a trap: the conflict between loyalty to their homeland and to their love can be resolved only by death.
Behind the monumental scenes, with its heart-rending human conflicts and music that has remained popular well beyond the walls of opera houses, Verdi’s Aida has proven to be not only a pinnacle of the composer’s oeuvre but also one of the high points of the operatic repertoire, having been performed more than a thousand times in Budapest alone. In the 2015 production by János Mohácsi, an iconic figure of Hungarian theatrical life, with choreography by Johanna Bodor, the visual world of the performance also seeks to convey the horrors of warfare that frame the lovers’ lives and that, regrettably, have lost none of their relevance today.
In the eight-performance series, Aida is conducted for the first time by Martin Rajna, principal conductor of the Hungarian State Opera, who earned both professional and public acclaim last year for Macbeth and earlier for Attila in the Verdi repertoire. The title role in the double cast is portrayed by Eszter Sümegi and Csilla Boross, both bringing great experience to the part and having already appeared in the Erkel Theatre premiere of the production alongside Ildikó Komlósi and Erika Gál as Amneris. Adorján Pataki can be seen for the first time as Radamès at the Opera House; he debuted in the role in Cluj-Napoca in 2023 and shares the portrayal of the Egyptian commander with Boldizsár László. Mihály Kálmándy and Alexandru Agache return to the often-sung role of Amonasro, joined by Krisztián Cser as the King of Egypt, Géza Gábor as Ramfis, Melinda Heiter as the High Priestess, who has been part of the production since the premiere, and Barna Bartos, who now makes his debut as the Messenger. The Hungarian State Opera ensures a truly grandiose performance with an 89-member orchestra and a 112-member chorus, 15 ballet dancers and an additional 50 extras as well as 12 acrobats from the Vincze Tünde Production and New Step Fitness.
In the 2025/26 season, Aida can be seen at the Opera House on 24, 25, 27, 28, 30 & 31 January, and 1 & 3 February 2026.
Photo by Péter Rákossy
