The Hungarian State Opera’s new initiative offers a special musical experience starring Krisztián Cser and Atala Schöck, as well as Omar Montanari, Zsolt Haja, István Horváth, and Zita Szemere. At the discounted concert-style performances, Bartók’s work is conducted by Zsolt Hamar on January 22, while Donizetti’s comic opera is conducted by Levente Török on January 29.
Excellent, internationally acclaimed Hungarian and foreign soloists in an exceptionally inspiring acoustic environment: this is what the Hungarian State Opera’s new concept, bringing together its concert-style productions, offers. The OPERA IC audiophile series (its name referring both to the English term iron curtain and to the highest standards of music listening) presents popular operas that cannot be heard in other formats during the given season. Beyond the performances of first-rate artists, the musical experience is enhanced by the lowered iron curtain, which acts as a sound reflector, supporting the singers performing on the forestage and making full use of their acting skills.
As the opening event of the series in 2026, Bartók’s opera Bluebeard’s Castle can be heard on the Day of Hungarian Culture, 22 January, interpreted by two outstanding chamber singers of the OPERA, Krisztián Cser and Atala Schöck. Atala Schöck will sing the role of Judith on the Opera House stage for the first time; she debuted in the role in 2017 at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo. Since then, she has performed it in, among other places, Bologna, Ankara and Istanbul as part of the Turkish–Hungarian Cultural Season, as well as at last year’s jubilee concert celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Liszt Academy. Krisztián Cser returns to the Opera House stage as Bluebeard after ten years; he most recently sang the role last summer at London’s Royal Albert Hall, and over the past decade and a half he has appeared with it at more than a dozen venues, including New York’s Carnegie Hall and Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie. The Hungarian State Opera Orchestra will be conducted at the concert by another renowned expert of the work, Zsolt Hamar. The chief conductor of the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra returns to the Opera House after last summer’s highly successful series of Le nozze di Figaro, having previously conducted Bartók’s opera there in 1999.
One week later, on 29 January, Donizetti’s comic opera Don Pasquale will be featured under similar circumstances. The work was performed to great success before sold-out audiences last summer in Csaba Káel’s stage production. In the role of the eccentric elderly gentleman eager to marry, the excellent Italian baritone Omar Montanari will make his debut in Budapest; for nearly two decades he has been a leading interpreter across Europe in the comic operas of Mozart, Donizetti, and Rossini. His partners in the production will be the outstanding artists of the summer performances: Zsolt Haja (Malatesta), István Horváth (Ernesto), recipient of Kammersänger of the 2024/25 season title, the versatile Zita Szemere (Norina), and Attila Erdős (Carlotto), who also excels in character roles. The Hungarian State Opera Orchestra and Chorus will be conducted by Levente Török, a prominent representative of the Opera House’s young generation of conductors.
