Hungarian State Opera Commemorates 1025 Years of Hungary with Special Performances
- 18 Dec 2025 4:31 PM
The Hungarian State Opera is marking the 1025th anniversary of the founding of the Hungarian state with a series of special performances celebrating Saint Stephen, Hungary’s first king.
On New Year’s Eve, the Opera will present a symphonic version of the rock opera István, a király (Stephen, the King), while the New Year’s concert will feature works by Beethoven and Zoltán Kodály inspired by Saint Stephen.
According to the Opera, Prince Géza’s son was crowned King of Hungary on Christmas Day in the year 1000 (Julian calendar), or January 1, 1001 (Gregorian calendar), marking the birth of the Hungarian state.
The symphonic version of István, a király, first staged in 2020 for composer Levente Szörényi’s 75th birthday, will be conducted by Gergely Kesselyák, directed by Miklós Szinetár, and orchestrated by Levente Gyöngyösi. After nearly 50 successful performances, including this year’s run, this will be its final staging at the Opera House.
The production will feature new debuts by Boldizsár László and István Bartos Barna, alongside Csaba Szegedi (Koppány), Kinga Kriszta (Gizella), Andrea Meláth (Sarolt), János Szemenyei (Laborc), István Kovácsházi (Asztrik), and Melinda Heiter and opera studio member Vivienne Ortan (Réka).
The performance will include the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra, Choir, and a 14-member dance troupe, with additional shows on January 3, 4, 9, and 10.
The New Year’s concert will feature Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, including the Ode to Joy, alongside the King Stephen Overture. The program continues with Zoltán Kodály’s Song to King Saint Stephen, written in 1938 to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the king’s death.
A highlight of the concert will be a festive address by Tamás Freund, Széchenyi Prize-winning neurobiologist and president of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, who will also join his wife in the Kodály choir piece.
The concert will be conducted by Ádám Cser, featuring the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra and Choir, with soloists Lilla Horti, Atala Schöck, István Kovácsházi, and Krisztián Cser. A repeat performance is scheduled for January 17.
In addition, the Opera is preparing a new recording of Ferenc Erkel’s opera István király (King Stephen). The recording features István Kovács as King Stephen, Mária Farkasréti as Gisela of Hungary, Adorján Pataki as Prince Imre, Csaba Szegedi as Peter, Prince of Venice, Csaba Sándor as Vazul, Prince of the House of Árpád, and Kinga Kriszta as Princess Crescimira of Croatia.
The Hungarian State Opera Orchestra and Choir will be conducted by István Dénes, a permanent member of the Opera, and the recording will later be released on major music streaming platforms.
More:
Opera.hu
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