Andrei Danilov and Martin Rajna both make their debut in the nearly 90-year-old Opera House production of La bohème, while for the first time the Mozart version of Händel’s popular Christmas oratorio can be heard in English at the Ybl Palace. Futhermore, the audio play Artaban, telling the story of the fourth wise man, once again invites audiences on a soul-warming inner journey among the December programmes of the Hungarian State Opera.
Puccini's La bohème is an indispensable piece of the Christmas season, and the oldest, most legendary production in the opera house’s repertoire. Kálmán Nádasdy’s staging, with Gusztáv Oláh’s enchanting sets and Tivadar Márk’s period-authentic costumes, has been performed more than 1,000 times in the 88 years since its 1937 premiere. Most recently, the production won the appreciation of audiences at Dubai Opera in three performances this September. The heart-warming work portraying the love- and hardship-filled everyday life of the Parisian bohemians is presented six times between 13 and 27 December. Andrei Danilov, winner of the 2022 Éva Marton Singing Competition, makes his debut as Rodolfo; he has previously won the favour of audiences in the roles of the Duke of Mantua (Rigoletto) and Faust. He is joined, mostly in alternating casts, by such popular artists as Gergely Boncsér and Adorján Pataki (Rodolfo), Polina Pasztircsák and Lilla Horti (Mimì), Csaba Sándor and Csaba Szegedi (Marcello), Gábor Bretz (Colline), Azat Malik (Schaunard), as well as Rita Rácz and Zita Szemere (Musetta). Following his Dubai debut, Dénes Gulyás can be seen for the first time by Budapest audiences in the character roles of Benoît and Alcindoro, while Parpignol is performed by Opera Studio member Botond Pál. The OPERA Orchestra, Chorus (chorus director: Gábor Csiki) and Children’s Chorus (chorus master: Nikolett Hajzer) are conducted by principal conductor Martin Rajna.
Since 2019, Mozart’s adaptation of Händel’s oratorio Messiah has become a regular piece of the Advent season. The choral work, well known for its “Hallelujah” chorus and often performed at Christmas, depicts the coming of the Redeemer, His Passion, and Resurrection. It is presented at the Opera House on 21 and 22 December, for the first time in English. The solo parts are performed by Gabriella Balga, Atala Schöck, Tibor Szappanos, and István Kovács, the OPERA Orchestra and Chorus are conducted by Kálmán Strausz, recipient of the Liszt Prize and former chorus director of the OPERA.
Since 2023, Artaban, recounting the story of the fourth wise man from the East, has also been part of the festive programme. In the one-hour meditative performance, the protagonist reaches only the foot of the cross at the end of his arduous journey, yet through his good deeds he still comes to embody the essence of Christ’s teaching. In the concept of Dr. Szilveszter Ókovács, the audio play, listened to in darkness during the Advent period of yearning for light, can be experienced by the audience reclining in deck chairs, while the production aims to engage multiple senses. Attila Pacsay’s meditative music is heard from a recording by the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra, with live contributions by concertmaster Elina Krisztina Harsányi and clarinettist Péter Csongár. The musical director of the performances is Gergely Dubóczky. The spoken parts are narrated by Zoltán Rátóti, while the sung sections are performed by Gabriella Létay Kiss, Lőrinc Kósa, as well as Boldizsár Zajkás and Dávid Dani. Artaban is presented six times between 5 and 21 December in the Medgyaszay Hall of the Opera House. (Please note that Artaban is performed in Hungarian without subtitles.)
The Hungarian State Opera performances during this Advent season offer an excellent opportunity to get in the festive mood.
