Performer: Hungarian State Opera

Hungarian State Opera's cut-down, dramatically inert Gioconda fails to ignite the stage in Budapest, despite a solid musical foundation. 

Martin Rajna's energetic conducting and Gabriella Balga's glorious Elisabetta are the bright spots in this flashy but empty house premiere of Donizetti's classic.

Attila Mókus's dramatic baritone was scornful at one moment, tender, distressed, vengeful, or broken in mourning at others, vocal signposts in Rigoletto’s descent into the hell of his own making.

The 2024–25 season features new productions of Turandot, Maria Stuarda, Macbeth and La Bayadère, as well as a host of titles in rep from Hungary and elsewhere.

The vast 2023–24 season at Budapest boast 41 different operas and 19 ballets – with new productions of Boris Godunov, Rusalka, ballets by Bartók, and a world premiere from Peter Eötvös.

We put the spotlight on highlights of over 500 shows in two newly restored venues between September and July.