Following appearances at the leading opera houses of London, Paris, Vienna, Berlin, and Milan, the Hungarian State Opera will host Anna Netrebko, who will sing the female lead in Verdi’s Macbeth on 6 and 8 June 2026. One of the world’s foremost sopranos will appear in Hungary for the first time in a fully staged production. Other principal roles will be sung by Mihály Kálmándy, Szabolcs Brickner, and Sándor Köpeczi, with the ensembles of the OPERA conducted by principal conductor Martin Rajna. Tickets for the performances go on sale at 10:00 a.m. on 4 February 2026, with advance sales beginning at 10:00 a.m. on 3 February.
Anna Netrebko has been one of the defining prima donnas of the international opera world for more than two decades. Thanks to her exceptional voice, unrivalled charisma, and captivating stage presence, she is received with admiration by audiences and critics alike around the globe. After numerous gala evenings, concert performances of operas, and recitals, Hungarian audiences will now see her for the first time in a fully staged production in the role of Lady Macbeth.
Netrebko first achieved major success in this difficult role of Verdi’s opera in 2014 at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and most recently appeared as Lady Macbeth in 2023 at La Scala in Milan. The Budapest production was premiered by the Hungarian State Opera in February 2025, conducted by principal conductor Martin Rajna and staged by South African director Matthew Wild. Inspired by Shakespeare’s play, the spectacular production combines traditional and contemporary elements with projection technology and has been warmly received by both audiences and critics.
As in her previous appearances, Anna Netrebko’s partners this time will also be outstanding Hungarian artists. The role of Macbeth will be sung by Mihály Kálmándy, Kossuth Prize–winning eternal member and master artist of the Hungarian State Opera. Banquo will be portrayed by Sándor Köpeczi, born in Cluj-Napoca, who recently enjoyed great success at the Metropolitan Opera in New York as Colline in La bohème and Sarastro in The Magic Flute. The role of Macduff will be sung by Szabolcs Brickner, Kammersänger of the OPERA's 2023/24 season. The Hungarian State Opera Orchestra and Chorus will once again be conducted by Martin Rajna.
Tickets for the dress rehearsal scheduled for 6 June and the performance on8 June will be available in advance from 10:00 a.m. on 3 February 2026, through the OperApp application. General ticket sales begin at 10:00 a.m. on 4 February on the OPERA’s official website (opera.hu), as well as during opening hours at the Opera House box office and the customer service desk in the Simándy Wing (1061 Budapest, Hajós utca 11). Tickets for the 8 June performance are sold in a premiere price category with dynamic pricing, while tickets for the special dress rehearsal on 6 June are available at base prices without dynamic pricing.
Anna Netrebko’s collaboration with the Hungarian State Opera began in 2017, when the OPERA Orchestra accompanied her joint aria concert with Yusif Eyvazov at the Waldbühne in Berlin. Later that same year, they sang the leading roles of Andrea Chénier in a concert performance at the Erkel Theatre. In 2021, as a guest of Müpa Budapest, they worked together again in a concert version of Tosca with the OPERA ensembles, followed in 2022 by a piano recital given by the soprano at the Opera House. In 2023, she appeared at the VeszprémFest with Eyvazov and the OPERA Orchestra; in 2024, they sang the leading roles of Il trovatore at the Eiffel Art Studios; in spring 2025, they presented a Puccini aria recital at the Ybl Palace; and this past January, the OPERA Orchestra and Chorus accompanied her once again in Verdi’s Requiem at Müpa Budapest.
During the season, the star soprano has appeared (or is due to appear) in operatic productions as Turandot in London, Amelia (Un ballo in maschera) in Paris and Berlin, Abigaille (Nabucco) in Vienna and Milan, and the title role of Tosca in Vienna.
Photo by Vladimir Shirokov
