On All Hallows' Eve, 31 October 2020, tenor Boldizsár László, Chamber Singer for the 2017/18 season gave an aria recital on the Sándor Hevesi Stage of the Eiffel Art Studios. The performance could be viewed streamed live from 8:00 p.m. on Facebook and Origo.hu.
Born in Keszthely, tenor László Boldizsár grew up in Paks, where he began his life in music at age seven at the local music school. After spending 15 years as the front man for the Cotton Club Singers jazz ensemble that he founded, he went on to further his career in the genre of opera. At the Hungarian State Opera, he made his debut as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly in 2012. His wide-ranging repertoire beside Erkel, Puccini, Verdi and 19th century operas, includes such rarities as Die Rheinnixen by Offenbach or Sly by Wolf-Ferrari. He was named Chamber Singer of the Opera in the 2017/18 season. For most part of his aria recital he selected excerpts from Italian operas, but he also evoked his role from Die Königin von Saba, which earned him recognition on international tours. In the programme, viewers could also enjoy instrumental baroque music by pianist of the evening, Kálmán Szennai. One of the guests to appear was Chamber Singer Csaba Szegedi, the surprise guest was Helga Nánási, an artist close to Mr. László's heart. The show directed by Erika Tóth was hosted by Melitta Gyüdi.
Programme:
Puccini: Tosca – "Recondita armonia"
Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana – Turiddu's aria ("O Lola, c'hai di latti la cammisa")
Verdi: Rigoletto – Gilda's aria from Act 1 ("Caro nome") – performed by Helga Nánási
Goldmark: Die Königin von Saba – Assad's aria from Act 2 ("Magische Töne")
Verdi: Manon Lescaut – Des Grieux's aria from Act 1 ("Donna non vidi mai")
J. S. Bach: Der Leib zwar in der Erden – Choral from Cantata BWV 161 – performed by Kálmán Szennai
C. Ph. E. Bach: Sonata in B minor – Rondo cantabile, H. 245 – performed by Kálmán Szennai
Verdi: Il trovatore – Manrico's aria and stretta from Act 3 ("Ah sì, ben mio coll'essere… Di quella pira")
Verdi: Otello – Iago's aria from Act 2 ("Credo in un Dio crudel") – performed by Csaba Szegedi
Verdi: Otello – Otello and Iago's duet from Act 2 ("Si pel ciel") – featuring Csaba Szegedi
The performance can be seen HERE.