Of whales and metaphors: Peter Eötvös' Valuska premieres in Budapest

Valuska

Tünde Szabóki (Tünde) and Zsolt Haja (Valuska)

Zsolt Haja (Valuska)

By Zenaida des Aubris, 06 December 2023

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

Reviewed at Eiffel Art Studios: Bánffy Stage, Budapest on 2 December 2023

Eötvös, Valuska (world premiere)

Hungarian State Opera

Kálmán Szennai, Conductor

Bence Varga, Director

Botond Devich, Set Designer

Kató Huszár, Costume Designer

Sándor Baumgartner, Lighting Designer

Hungarian State Opera Orchestra

Hungarian State Opera Chorus

Tünde Szalontay, Hagelmayer / Narrator

Zsolt Haja, János Valuska

Adrienn Miksch, Mrs Pflaum

Tünde Szabóki, Tünde

Mária Farkasréti, A peasant woman

András Hábetler, A teacher

Krisztián Cser, Man in a woolen coat / Soldier

Istvan Horvath, Director

Balázs Papp, The Prince’s adjutant

Lőrinc Kósa, Nadabán

András Kiss, Mádai

János Szerekován, Volent

Zoltán Bátki Fazekas, Ticket inspector

Attila Erdős, Officer

Gábor Csiki, Choirmaster / chorus director

All that glitters is not gold in Budapest's new Lohengrin

Orsolya Gyárfás, 16th November

Klára Kolonits's radiant Elsa proves the main attraction in the Hungarian State Opera's visually appealing but conceptually lacking new Lohengrin.

**111

A thrilling, opulent La Bayadère at Hungarian National Ballet

Gianmarco Segato, 14th June

Hungarian National Ballet's La Bayadère revitalizes tradition with a new reconstruction of its forgotten final act.

*****

Visually splendid, dramatically parched La Gioconda in Budapest

Gianmarco Segato, 11th June

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

***11

Stumbling towards the chopping block: Maria Stuarda in Budapest

Orsolya Gyárfás, 14th May

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.

**111

Hungarian National Ballet: a tremendously witty Merry Widow

Deborah Weiss, 12th February

Hungarian National Ballet strike a delightful balance between lighthearted comedy and technical assurance in Ronald Hynd's The Merry Widow.

****1

A promising class: 6th Éva Marton Competition grand final

Orsolya Gyárfás, 7th September

In its tenth year and going strong, the biennial Éva Marton International Singing Competition fields an even level of talent in an entertaining finale.

More reviews...

Zenaida des Aubris

Zenaida des Aubris, based in Berlin, has over 30 years experience in artist management and production of classical music and opera in the United States, Europe and Asia. Currently, she offers consultation to music competitions and schools as well as to individual recent graduates on how to manage themselves and kickstart their careers through her company Opera Career Advice.