Featured artist of the 17 October 2020 Masquerade programme was lyric coloratura mezzo-soprano Gabriella Balga. Her aria recital was streamed live from the Sándor Hevesi Stage of the Eiffel Art Studios from 8:00 p.m. on Facebook and Origo.hu.
Gabriella Balga first achieved success as a child at folk song competitions. At the age of seven, she started to play the flute, from the age of twelve she began her classical vocal studies. She graduated from the Music Academy in 2013. She made her debut at the Hungarian State Opera in the role of Mátyás Hunyadi in the opera Hunyadi László by Ferenc Erkel. She is the winner of numerous international singing competitions, a recipient of several awards, and the Opera named her Chamber Singer for the 2019/20 season. Her aria recital featured pieces by Mozart, Rossini, Meyerbeer and Bellini. One of her partners was Chamber Singer Klára Kolonits, the surprise guest – in accordance with the tradition of the Masquerade series – was a young singer, Lőrinc Kósa. The performance directed by Mária Harangi was hosted by Szilveszter Ókovács, featured on the piano was Balázs Kálvin.
Programme:
Mozart: La clemenza di Tito – Sextus's aria from Act 1 ("Parto, parto, ma tu ben mio")
Meyerbeer: Les Huguenots – Urbain's aria from Act 1 ("Nobles seigneurs, salut!")
Rossini: L'italiana in Algeri – Isabella's aria from Act 2 ("Per lui che adoro")
Bellini: Norma – Norma's aria from Act 1 ("Casta diva") – performed by Klára Kolonits
Bellini: Norma – Adalgisa and Norma's duet from Act 1 ("Alcun s’avanza… Oh! Rimembranza…") – featuring Klára Kolonits
Mozart: Don Giovanni – Champagne aria ("Fin ch’an dal vino…") – performed by Lőrinc Kósa
Bellini: I Capuleti e I Montecchi – Romeo's cavatina from Act 1 ("Se Romeo t'uccise un figlio")
Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia – Rosina's cavatina from Act 1 ("Una voce poco fa")
The performance can be seen HERE.