Visually splendid, dramatically parched La Gioconda in Budapest

Andrea Szántó (Laura) and Francesca Tiburzi (La Gioconda)

Csaba Szegedi (Barnaba) and Stefano La Colla (Enzo)

La Gioconda at Hungarian State Opera

By Gianmarco Segato, 12 June 2025

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Reviewed at Hungarian State Opera: Auditorium, Budapest on 11 June 2025

Ponchielli, La Gioconda

Hungarian State Opera

János Kovács, Conductor

András Almási-Toth, Director

Krisztina Lisztopád, Set Designer

Bori Tóth, Costume Designer

Tamás Pillinger, Lighting Designer

Hungarian State Opera Orchestra

Hungarian State Opera Chorus

Francesca Tiburzi, La Gioconda

Stefano La Colla, Enzo Grimaldo

Krisztián Cser, Alvise Badoero

Andrea Szántó, Laura Adorno

Csaba Szegedi, Barnaba

Atala Schöck, La Cieca

Boldizsár Zajkás, Zuàne

Gergely Biri, Isèpo

Karoly Fekete, Monk

Gergely Irlanda, Monk

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A thrilling, opulent La Bayadère at Hungarian National Ballet

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

Fine voices, staid production: Rigoletto at Hungarian State Opera

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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.

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Gianmarco Segato

Arts writer, administrator and singer Gianmarco Segato is Assistant Editor for La Scena Musicale. He was Associate Artist Manager for opera at Dean Artists Management and, from 2017-2022, Editorial Director of Opera Canada magazine. Previous to that he was Adult Programs Manager with the Canadian Opera Company. Gianmarco is an intrepid classical music traveler with a special love of Prague and Budapest as well as an avid cyclist and cook.

Visually splendid, dramatically parched La Gioconda at Hungarian State Opera