In the first Masquerade of the New Year, two excellent soloists, soprano Lilla Horti and tenor Tibor Szappanos gave an aria recital on the Sándor Hevesi Stage of the Eiffel Art Studios. The performance was streamed from 8:00 p.m. on Facebook and Origo.hu.
Born into a family of musicians, Lilla Horti commenced her music studies at the arts school in Csongrád. At the Szeged Conservatory, she started out studying flute but later switched to studying voice. She graduated from the Music Academy as a student of Éva Marton. She has made her name in several singing competitions, and made her début on the opera stage in the Szeged Open-Air Festival's production Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci. She first appeared at the Hungarian State Opera in 2017, in pieces by Tchaikovsky, Kodály and Levente Gyöngyösi. Soon she went on to sing such important role as Mimì in La bohème. In 2017, she was given the Junior Prima Award.
Tibor Szappanos began his studies in the department of liturgical music at Emanuel University in Oradea, Romania before transferring two years later to the Béla Bartók Vocational High School of Music in Budapest to continue his education in the vocal soloist department In 2000, he was admitted into the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music to study as a vocalist and singing teacher under department head Éva Andor, graduating in 2005. His first major success as a singer came in 2002, at an international master class and competition in Baden bei Wien, where he finished in second place in a three-round singing contest. He made his debut at the Hungarian State Opera the same year, in the world premiere of Gyula Fekete's one-act opera The Saved City. As a lyric tenor, he primarily sings Mozart and bel canto, but has also appeared in some of the more lyrical roles of Wagner and Verdi. He is often engaged to perform as a soloist in oratorios and concerts.
For their aria recital they chose excerpts focusing on love and desire, many of which – according to the theme of the season – are from French operas or works connected to French culture.
Artistic director of the performance: Katalin Kovács
Host: Melitta Gyüdi
Featuring on the piano: Balázs Kálvin
Programme:
Flotow: Martha, oder Der Markt zu Richmond – Lyonel's aria from Act 3 ("Ach so fromm, ach so traut") – Tibor Szappanos
Bellini: I puritani – Elvira's aria from Act 2 ("Qui la voce... Vien diletto") – Lilla Horti
Donizetti: L'elisir d'amore – Nemorino's aria from Act 2 ("Una furtiva lagrima") – Tibor Szappanos
Gounod: Faust – Marguerite's Jewel Song ("Ah! Je ris de me voir si belle") – Lilla Horti
Chopin: Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-Shar Minor, Op. 66 – performed by Balázs Kálvin
Verdi: La traviata – Violetta and Alfredo's duet from Act 1 ("Oh, qual pallor!... Un dì felice, eterea") – Lilla Horti and Tibor Szappanos
Verdi: La traviata – Alfredo's aria from Act 2 ("Lunge da lei") – Tibor Szappanos
Leoncavallo: Pagliacci – Bird Song ("Qual fiamma avea nel guardo!... Stridono lassù") – Lilla Horti
The performance can be viewed HERE.
Photo by Attila Nagy