Starting in 2018 and inspired by dramas that are themselves part of opera history, the Opera has attempted to both support contemporary Hungarian literature and serve the cause of opera itself. It first commissioned poet and dramatist Balázs Szálinger, one of the outstanding authors of his generation and one who is much in demand, to write Siegfried Idyll, about the remarkable relationship between Wagner and Nietzsche. He then went on to treat the tragedy of Doria Manfredi, an episode in Puccini’s life full of jealousy, love and misunderstandings, in a piece titled Crisantemi. Serving as the musical background of the former is Géza Köteles’s arrangement of Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll. In the latter, the moving biographical scenes are accompanied by Puccini’s string quartet Crisantemi and a few marvellous excerpts from his operas.
Siegfried Idyll, or The End of a Friendship
Play with music, in one part, in Hungarian
General cast
- Conductor
- N.N.
- Richard Wagner
- András Kőrösi
- Friedrich Nietzsche
- Balázs Csémy
- Cosima Wagner
- Judit Schell
- Elisabeth
- Dóra Létay
- Ballet dancers
- N.N.
Credits
- Librettist
- Szálinger Balázs
- Musical director
- Géza Köteles
- Concept by
- Szilveszter Ókovács
- Director
- Péter Kálloy Molnár
- Set designer
- László Székely
- Costume designer
- Győri Gabi
- Choreographer
- Marianna Venekei
- Featuring
- the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra's String Quartet
- Premiere
- May 13, 2018
Chrysanthemums, or The Death of Liù
Chamber piece with lots of music, in Hungarian
General cast
- Elvira
- Tankó Erika
- Puccini
- Olasz Renátó
- Doria
- Mészöly Anna
- Fosca
- Bajor Lili
- Giulia
- Stork Natasa
- Tenor
- Gergely Boncsér
- Soprano
- Lilla Horti
Credits
- Dramatist
- Szálinger Balázs
- Music by
- Giacomo Puccini
- Concept by
- Szilveszter Ókovács
- Director
- Bálint Szilágyi
- Visual designer
- Sándor Márkus
- Dramaturg
- Eszter Orbán
- Music director
- Géza Köteles
- Featuring on piano
- Szilvia Mikó
- Premiere
- June 8, 2019