The Hungarian State Opera will present Verdi's Macbeth on 22 February 2025, starring George Gagnidze, star of the New York Metropolitan Opera and Mihály Kálmándy in the title role, alongside Csilla Boross and Szilvia Rálik as Lady Macbeth. The new production, which blends traditional and contemporary elements, is directed by Matthew Wild, with musical direction by principal conductor Martin Rajna.
In the timeless story of the regicidal Scottish general and his manipulative wife, Verdi masterfully portrays the dark themes of ambition, crime, guilt, and inevitable destruction. The dramatic and psychological depth of his opera has been an inexhaustible source of inspiration for musical theater creators for decades. "Macbeth is a universally relatable parable about what happens when we overestimate how much guilt we can live with. It examines, step by step, what happens to a couple for whom power and position become more important than family, morality, or even their own souls," says Matthew Wild. The director has been preparing for years to stage Verdi’s first Shakespeare adaptation, striving to incorporate as many elements of the original English playwright's work as possible into his production. Born in South Africa and raised in a musical theatre environment, Wild was the artistic director of Cape Town Opera from 2015 to 2021. In recent years, he has gained recognition in German-speaking countries as well, directing productions at the Frankfurt Opera, Theater an der Wien, and the Erl Tyrolean Festival.
The production at the Opera House aims to express the protagonists' inner torment through striking imagery. To depict this, it transports audiences to a dystopian future Scotland, inspired by both Scottish traditions and contemporary elements, where feudal structures and dictatorial rule prevail. "It will be like the film Braveheart, but with machine guns," summarized the director regarding the production’s visual concept. The set design is by Sebastian Hannak (Idomeneo, Boris Godunov, Nixon in China), while the costumes are created by Heide Kastler, who has worked for over 30 years on productions at leading German and European opera houses and festivals. Lighting design is by Tamás Bányai, who also brings extensive international experience to the production. Additionally, projections play a key role in the performance, designed by Zsombor Czeglédi, while the choreography for the chorus and performers is developed by Eszter Lázár.
The leading soloits in Macbeth’s double cast all have extensive experience portraying Verdi’s characters. Georgian baritone George Gagnidze, making his debut in Hungary and at the Opera House, has been a regular at the Metropolitan Opera since 2008 and frequently performs at other leading opera houses worldwide. In addition to many major Verdi roles, he has previously portrayed the Scottish thane in New York, Bologna, Naples, and Valencia. His counterpart, Csilla Boross, is also making her debut as Lady Macbeth at the Opera House, though she has already played the ruthless wife in Modena, Marseille, Mexico, and at the Teatro Verdi in Trieste, and Muscat. Meanwhile, Mihály Kálmándy and Szilvia Rálik have been performing Macbeth's roles on the Opera House stage for over twenty years, bringing their interpretations to numerous opera houses from Europe to New Zealand. A significant emphasis in the production is placed on Shakespeare’s three witches, whom Verdi also characterized as key figures alongside Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. These silent roles will be performed by experienced contemporary dancers Katalin Lőrinc and Ferenc Fehér, as well as Kamill Kökény-Hámori, a young artist from the Hungarian National Ballet. Further cast includes Krisztián Cser (Banquo, Doctor), Szabolcs Brickner (Macduff), Barna Bartos (Malcolm), Lúcia Megyesi Schwartz (Lady Macbeth’s lady-in-waiting), and Bence Pataki (Macbeth’s servant). Also appearing are Boldizsár Zajkás, Dávid Dani, Luca Csörgeő, and opera studio member Anija Lombard. The Hungarian State Opera Orchestra and Chorus (chorus director: Gábor Csiki) will be conducted by principal conductor Martin Rajna.
Following the premiere on 22 February 2025, Macbeth will be performed six more times during the season, on 26 & 28 February and 2, 5, 7 & 9 March 2025.