An extraordinary highlight of the Shakespeare season of the Opera is the 30 January Hungarian premiere of Lear. The opera by German composer Aribert Reimann is put on stage by Ferenc Anger. His work is based on the Munich world premiere production by the legendary director, Jean-Pierre Ponnelle.
The most successful contemporary opera by Aribert Reimann that was commissioned by the Bavarian State Opera has arrived in Hungary. The world premiere in 1978 was a great success. Moreover, it became popular with audiences as well as gaining professional acclaim, which is very rare with contemporary pieces although it not being an easily enjoyable opera. Critics have stated that despite the complexity of the music it can satisfy connoisseurs of operas.
Directorial adaptation is not a common practice in Hungarian operatic life. This premiere of Reimann's Shakespeare opera is a significant cultural event for several reasons: the Hungarian premiere of the production is an homage to the art of Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. The French director began his career in Germany, later he made his name in the most important opera houses around the world such as the New York Metropolitan, Covent Garden in London, and Bayreuth among many others.
The open, empty stage designed by Ponnelle evokes nature – the director wished to have a clear technical state in which the boards are meticulously planned in order to represent a contrast like a marshland. He aimed to find a theatrical form in which the story can be told without any historicism. The staging of actors resembles Asian theatres by using elements of the kabuki and bunraku marionette theatres. Following the work of Ponnelle, the Hungarian premiere is put on stage by director Ferenc Anger, the stage design and costumes were reconstructed by the young and successful set designer, Gergely Zöldy Z.
The premiere of Lear at the Opera House is a challenge to singers. In the title role Tómas Tómasson can be seen, who began his career with heldenbaritone roles such as The Flying Dutchman or Wozzeck. The Icelandic artist is a frequent guest star at the most significant concert halls and opera houses all over the world. He has appeared at Covent Garden, La Scala in Milan, La Monnaie in Brussels as well as the Los Angeles Opera and the San Francisco Opera. He has sung under the baton of Riccardo Muti, Daniel Barenboim and Lorin Maazel.
The premiere is conducted by Hungarian-born Stefan Soltész. Through his clear instructions the dark, complex and meditative music by Reimann will almost have physical effects on listeners: the world out of joint is represented by screams, cracks, and powerful noises. Lear is a confusing, sovereign and monumental work described by musicologists as a wild music of extremes. The extraordinary voices are provided by excellent soloist of the Hungarian State Opera: Éva Bátori, István Kovácsházi, András Palerdi, Szilvia Rálik and Eszter Sümegi.
Following the 30 January premiere, Lear is on stage five more times at the Opera House.
