Giuseppe Verdi: IL TROVATORE | Opera Premiere

Thursday, July 23, 2026, 8:00 PM (rain date: July 24) & Thursday, July 23, 2026, 8:00 PM (rain date: July 24)

Margaret Island Open-Air Stage

Running time: 180 minutes (with 1 intermission)

The opera of passionate hatred and love!

One of the greatest audience successes of the 2025 summer season was Giuseppe Verdi’s Nabucco, presented by the Margitsziget Theatre in a production directed by Bán Teodóra. As one of the highlights of the 2026 season, Verdi’s monumental masterpiece Il Trovatore will be presented with a world-class cast of international opera stars.

Following its 1853 premiere, the opera quickly conquered Europe’s stages: in Naples alone, it was performed nearly 190 times across six different theatres, while in Hungary it premiered on 31 October 1854.

In the title role, the Margitsziget Theatre will welcome internationally acclaimed Azerbaijani dramatic tenor Yusif Eyvazov for his first-ever performance at the venue. Eyvazov is a regular guest artist at the world’s most prestigious opera houses, including La Scala in Milan, the Vienna State Opera, London’s Royal Opera House, the Paris National Opera and Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu. His distinguished discography also includes Puccini’s Manon Lescaut, released by Deutsche Grammophon and recorded at the Salzburg Festival.

The female lead, Leonora, will be performed by renowned Latvian soprano Marina Rebeka, for whom the role has become one of her signature portrayals. She has performed Leonora with great acclaim at London’s Royal Opera House and the Bavarian State Opera, and prior to her appearance in Budapest she will sing the role at Madrid’s Teatro Real alongside Piotr Beczała. Rebeka is a frequent guest at many of the world’s leading opera houses, including La Scala, the Vienna State Opera and the Zurich Opera House. Her artistry has been recognized with numerous international awards.

The two world stars have already shared major successes on international stages: together they captivated audiences at the Arena di Verona in Pagliacci, while their performances in Verdi’s Aida earned acclaim in both Vienna and Berlin.

The role of Azucena will be sung by Timișoara-born Hungarian mezzo-soprano Kutasi Judit. She appeared alongside Yusif Eyvazov on several occasions, including in Umberto Giordano’s Andrea Chénier at La Scala in Milan. Her extraordinary voice and dramatic stage presence have already impressed audiences at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Arena di Verona, and the leading opera houses of London, Berlin, Paris, Munich and Barcelona. The role of Count di Luna will be performed by Bogdan Baciu, one of the most promising rising baritones on today’s international opera scene.