While the restoration of the Opera House in Budapest is still ongoing, international opera stars flock to the Erkel Theatre to enchant audiences.
Sümegi25 anniversary gala concert – 1 February 2019, 7:30 p.m.
Hungarian soprano Eszter Sümegi has been a fundamental member of the Opera since her debut in 1993. She completed the foreign tours necessary for a well-established career, winning first prize at the Pavarotti Competition in Philadelphia, and singing in Salzburg, Paris, Frankfurt and the Vienna Staatsoper. Lately, she has received great critical acclaim for her role in The Queen of Sheba in the Opera’s performances in New York. At a gala to celebrate 25 years of her career she appears on stage with guest star Rafael Rojas to perform some of her favourite excerpts by Verdi, Bellini, Goldmark, and Puccini.
Lucia di Lammermoor with Edita Gruberova – 9 & 13 February 2019, 7 p.m.
An encounter between an iconic opera and an iconic soprano: after singing the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor with the Hungarian State Opera during the 2017 tour of Japan, Edita Gruberova will now return to Budapest to sing it at the Erkel Theatre, her first time performing the staged version here. Máté Szabó’s production provides an opportunity for the most outstanding coloratura soprano of the past 50 years to show off her incredible voce – now indeed 50 years after her debut in Bratislava in 1968.
Elīna Garanča aria concert – 25 February 2019, 7:30 p.m.
Now at the absolute zenith of her career, this Latvian born mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča is one of the greatest singers of our times. Her powerful and beautiful voice combined with her stunning appearance predestine her to the opera stage. For her Erkel Theatre debut she has selected a programme featuring pieces by Verdi, Cilea, Grieg as well as Gastaldon, Gardel, and Sorozábal.
Italian Gala with Sonya Yoncheva – 2 March 2019, 7 p.m.
On the last Saturday of the ball season, the Opera will be once again holding its most elegant event at the Erkel Theatre. As the current season is dedicated to one of the most popular Italian composers and his contemporaries, this year’s gala will be permeated with Puccini and Italy. A cheerful programme is, of course, suitable for some adventures among styles and genres. After many international guest stars over the years, it is now the turn of one of the brightest young soprano stars in the world: the Bulgarian Sonya Yoncheva, who performs for the first time in Budapest.
