Gustav Mahler, Symphony Number 8

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Gustav Mahler - Symphony No. 8

Symphony of a Thousand

Concert performance in Latin and German with Hungarian, English, and original-language subtitles

Running time: 1 hour 20 minutes, without intervals

 

Mahler’s monumental work, which sets the universe to music, has been part of the OPERA’s repertoire since 2020. This year, the powerful prayer will once again be performed on the stage of the Opera House, with the participation of our ensembles and outstanding soloists, under the musical direction of a legendary conductor.

Program and cast

Conductor: János Kovács

Soprano I / Magna Peccatrix - Natália Tuznik

Soprano II / Una pœnitentium - Eszter Sümegi

Mater Gloriosa - Zita Szemere

Alto I / Mulier Samaritana - Ildikó Komlósi

Alto II / Maria Ægyptiaca - Atala Schöck

Tenor / Doctor Marianus - Dániel Pataky

Baritone / Pater ecstaticus - Michele Kalmandy

Bass / Pater profundus - Krisztián Cser

 

Featuring the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra, Chorus, and Children's Chorus

 

Hungarian translation by Mihály Babits, László Éry

English translation by Keith Anderson

Head of the Children's Chorus: Nikolett Hajzer

Chorus director: Gábor Csiki

Hungarian State Opera

STANDING ROOM TICKETS - INFORMATION IN CASE OF A FULL HOUSE!

If all the seats are sold out for the selected time, but you still want to see the production on that day, 84 of the extremely affordable standing seats will be sold at the theatre, 2 hours before the start of the performance, with which you can visit the gallery on the 3rd floor. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office of the Budapest Opera House. We would like to draw your attention to the fact that the stage can only be seen to a limited extent from the standing places and the side seats, but at the same time, following the performance is also supported by television broadcasting on the spot.

The Opera House is not only one of the most significant art relic of Budapest, but the symbol of the Hungarian operatic tradition of more than three hundred years as well. The long-awaited moment in Hungarian opera life arrived on September 27, 1884, when, in the presence of Franz Joseph I. the Opera House was opened amid great pomp and ceremony. The event, however, erupted into a small scandal - the curious crowd broke into the entrance hall and overran the security guards in order to catch a glimpse of the splendid Palace on Sugar út. Designed by Mikós Ybl, a major figure of 19th century Hungarian architecture, the construction lived up to the highest expectations. Ornamentation included paintings and sculptures by leading figures of Hungarian art of the time: Károly Lotz, Bertalan Székely, Mór Than and Alajos Stróbl. The great bronze chandelier from Mainz and the stage machinery moda by the Asphaleia company of Vienna were both considered as cutting-edge technology at that time.

 

Many important artists were guests here including Gustav Mahler, the composer who was director in Budapest from 1887 to 1891. He founded the international prestige of the institution, performing Wagner operas as well as Magcagni’ Cavalleria Rusticana. The Hungarian State Opera has always maintained high professional standards, inviting international stars like Renée Fleming, Cecilia Bartoli, Monserrat Caballé, Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, José Cura, Thomas Hampson and Juan Diego Flórez to perform on its stage. The Hungarian cast include outstanding and renowed artists like Éva Marton, Ilona Tokody, Andrea Rost, Dénes Gulyás, Attila Fekete and Gábor Bretz.

Attila Nagy
© Nagy Attila
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