The ensembles and a dozen leading soloists of the OPERA including Eszter Sümegi, Péter Balczó, Gergely Boncsér, and Kolos Kováts are to appear at a grand gala concert that showcases the most memorable moments at the Erkel Theatre since its 2013 reopening. The 5 March 2022 gala features the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra under the baton of first conductor Gergely Kesselyák.
The gala bearing the title Carnival's Parting Words evokes the most successful productions of the past decade: excerpts from La bohème, Der Zigeunerbaron, Les contes d'Hoffmann, Stephen, the King, Nabucco, Porgy and Bess, Die Königin von Saba, La traviata, The Magic Flute and West Side Story are performed by Péter Balczó, Gabriella Balga, Andrea Brassói-Jőrös, Gergely Boncsér, Bernadett Fodor, Anna Csenge Fürjes, Lajos Geiger, Zsolt Haja, Melinda Heiter, Lilla Horti, Kinga Kriszta, Kolos Kováts, András Palerdi, Orsolya Hajnalka Rőser, Csaba Sándor, Eszter Sümegi, Csaba Szegedi, János Szemenyei and Eszter Zavaros. The Children's Chorus (head of the Children's Chorus: Nikolett Hajzer) also appear with a scene from the fairy tale opera The Stubborn Princess by Erzsébet Szőnyi, the Hungarian National Ballet performs Six Dances by Jiří Kylián, whereas the students of the Hungarian National Ballet Institute perform Palotás (Palace Dance) from the opera Hunyadi László by Erkel. The audience will also be shown excerpts from a documentary in the making directed by Kata Ruttner about the 70 seasons of the Erkel Theatre. The gala hosted by Bori Keszei is directed by András Aczél.
Following a closure lasting for six years, the Hungarian State Opera made basic restoration works and reopened the Erkel Theatre in 2013 with the aim to have a suitable venue for performances to take place when the Opera House closes for modernisation. With the reopening of the Opera House, it is time for the Erkel Theatre to undergo thorough renovation works, but it will continue to serve as a rehearsal space and will house guest performances, while the main focus will once again fall on the historic Opera House designed by Miklós Ybl as well as the Eiffel Art Studios, the home of contemporary and innovative productions.
