Celebrating 140 Years: Publications and Improvements at the Hungarian State Opera
This year marks the 140th anniversary of the Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest. The institution’s management is preparing for the anniversary with a number of activities, including a new publication and several renovations.
To celebrate the occasion, a selection of jubilee members were welcomed at a press event held on the Day of Hungarian Culture. Director General Dr. Szilveszter Ókovács spoke passionately about preserving Hungarian culture both spiritually and architecturally. Part of the celebration will include the re-installation of a time capsule that was found during the renovation of the opera house in 1984.
A new publication featuring photographs of the restored Opera House and a book by Opera House’s memorial director, Márton Karczag, are also in the works. Additionally, the institution is partnering with the Liszt Academy to launch the Éva Marton Opera Studio from September 2024, aimed at providing postgraduate training and stage experience to young opera singers.
Opera singer Éva Marton, co-founder of the Friends of Hungary Foundation, also attended the event and expressed her excitement about the upcoming opera studio. The management will also expand the “Opera Digitár” database, allowing researchers to access nearly 60,000 performances and the careers of over 7,000 artists over the past 139 seasons.
While the royal staircase wasn’t part of the recent renovation, the management is committed to reconstructing it and the Bertalan Székely Hall. Anka Józsa, technical director, detailed the ongoing reconstruction work, noting that specialists have been busy repairing and restoring the decorative elements.
The Hungarian State Opera House’s 140th anniversary will be celebrated with various initiatives and activities throughout the year to honor its longstanding cultural significance.
