Bachtrack logo
What's on
All eventsConcertsOperaDanceKids eventsMasterclassesCompetitionsFestivals
Reviews
All reviewsConcert reviewsOpera reviewsDance reviews
Articles
All articlesFeaturesInterviewsOpinionPlaylists
News
Video
Video homeAll videoStreamed eventsConcertsOperaDanceKids eventsMasterclassesPublishers
Site
About usContact usLink to usConditions of useCookiesPrivacy
Young artists
Travel
EventsReviewsArticlesVideo

Sympathy for the Devil: Satan has to compete with exciting visuals in Mefistofele in Budapest

By George Jahn, 12 April 2022
Loading, please wait...
See full listing
“a showcase role for a bass, and Amoretti tackled it with formidable range and power”
Reviewed at Hungarian State Opera: Auditorium, Budapest on 10 April 2022
Programme
Boito, Mefistofele
Performers
Hungarian State Opera
Antonello Allemandi, Conductor
Balázs Kovalik, Director
Csaba Antal, Set Designer
Mari Benedek, Costume Designer
Hungarian State Opera Orchestra
Hungarian State Opera Chorus
Rubén Amoretti, Mefistofele
Cosmin Ifrim, Faust
Gabriella Létay Kiss, Margherita, Elena
Anna Csenge Fürjes, Marta, Pantalis
Gergely Boncsér, Nereo, Wagner
Marianna Venekei, Choreography
Gábor Csiki, Choirmaster / chorus director
Hungarian State Opera Children's Chorus
Nikolett Hajzer, Choirmaster / chorus director
More Opera reviews
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...
Read reviews of
Anna Csenge FürjesAntonello AllemandiArrigo BoitoBalázs KovalikBudapest Philharmonic OrchestraCosmin IfrimCsaba AntalErwin SchrottGabriella Létay KissGergely BoncsérGábor CsikiHungarian National BalletHungarian State OperaHungarian State Opera Children's ChorusHungarian State Opera ChorusHungarian State Opera OrchestraMari BenedekMarianna VenekeiMefistofeleNikolett HajzerRubén Amoretti
Related articles
Loading image...
Maximum adaptability: Hungarian State Opera 2025–26
Loading image...
Witches, queens and more: Hungarian State Opera’s 2024–25 season
Loading image...
Opera in the blood: Speranza Scappucci
Loading image...
Street-smart and subversive: Ailish Tynan talks Così fan tutte
More by George Jahn
Loading image...
Fine voices, staid production: Rigoletto revived at Hungarian State Opera
Loading image...
New Rusalka staging hits most of the right notes at Hungarian State Opera
Loading image...
Franz Welser-Möst begins his Ring farewell with a rousing Rheingold at the Staatsoper
Loading image...
Gripping Budapest revival of Iphigenie holds true to Gluck's aims
George Jahn
George Jahn
George Jahn is the former Vienna bureau chief of The Associated Press. During his 35-year career at the global news organization, he covered wars, politics... and opera, reviewing productions at the Vienna State Opera, the Salzburg Festival, Bayreuth Festival and other houses in Austria and Germany. He has also written for Opera Now and International Piano magazines in London. Those he has interviewed include Matthias Goerne, Vesselina Kasarova, Thomas Hampson and Mariss Jansons. George holds or shares awards for his reporting on U.N. affairs and for his coverage of the Bosnian war. A Canadian/Hungarian citizen, he splits his time between residences in Vienna and Budapest.