On 20 January 2021, highlights from Der Zigeunerbaron, the grand operetta by Johann Strauss II were streamed from the Sándor Hevesi Stage of the Eiffel Art Studios from 8:00 p.m. on Facebook and Origo.hu.
On one of his visits to Budapest, the younger Johann Strauss formed an acquaintanceship with the Hungarian writer Mór Jókai, whose global popularity was also considerable; the fruit of their association turned out to be one of the “Waltz King's” finest operettas: Der Zigeunerbaron, or The Gypsy Baron, with which the 60-year-old Strauss once again captivated the world. One of the work's virtues is that its music lends itself to the opera stage, with the sounds of the Hungarian csárdás, Gypsy music, the Viennese waltz and weightier melodies all rubbing along together marvellously. And what is a bald pig dealer doing in an operetta? And who is the heir to the pasha of Temesvár? And how will the son of a country gentleman become the baron of the Gypsies? All will be made clear in the performance.
The title role was performed by Gergely Boncsér, his partners were Lilla Horti (Saffi), Bernadett Wiedemann (Czipra), László Szvétek (Zsupán), Orsolya Hajnalka Rőser (Arsena), Zoltán Bátki Fazekas (Count Carnero), Mária Farkasréti (Mirabella) and Zsolt Haja (Count Homonnay) with Sámuel Csaba Tóth on the piano.
Artistic directors of the performance: Erika Tóth and Katalin Lázár
Conductor: Balázs Kocsár
Narrator: Dániel Mona
The performance can be viewed HERE.
Photo by Péter Rákossy