Premiered in December 2023, Valuska, the final opera by Péter Eötvös is nominated in the category of world premieres of the 2024 International Opera Awards. The award ceremony is to be held at the Prinzregententheater of the Bavarian State Opera on 2 October 2024.
The International Opera Awards was founded by Harry Hyman in 2012. A lifelong opera lover, he felt that opera too often hid its light under a bushel. He was inspired to establish the Awards as a way to celebrate an exceptional art form, and to recognise on a global stage, the talented and dedicated individuals and organisations who make it happen. Judging of the International Opera Awards is carried out by a jury of industry professionals headed by Opera magazine editor John Allison, who has covered several performance of the Budapest OPERA as well. In the world premiere category, the Hungarian State Opera production is nominated along with those of Opera Philadelphia, The Dallas Opera, Opéra de Montréal, Teatro Real Madrid, Semperoper Dresden, Santa Fe Opera, and National Theatre Brno.
Péter Eötvös was commissioned by the Hungarian State Opera in 2018 to compose his 13th and only opera in Hungarian. The work by the internationally acclaimed contemporary composer and conductor who passed away in March 2024 is based on the 1989 novel The Melancholy of Resistance by László Krasznahorkai, winner of the International Man Booker Prize. The libretto was developed by Péter Eötvös and his wife and constant creative partner Mari Mezei, along with dramaturg Kinga Keszthelyi. The production was directed by Bence Varga, the visuals, reminiscent of the second half of the 20th century, were created by set designer Botond Devich, costume designer Kató Huszár, and lighting designer Sándor Baumgartner. The title role of Valuska was originated by Chamber Singer Zsolt Haja, further cast included Adrienn Miksch, Tünde Szabóki, András Hábetler, and Krisztián Cser. The Hungarian State Opera Orchestra and Chorus were conducted by Kálmán Szennai. The production that gained significant Hungarian and international critical acclaim and was also available on the OperaVision platform for six months earlier this year is expected to return to the repertoire in the 2025/26 season. Despite his serious illness, Péter Eötvös played a major part in the preparation of the production and attended the world premiere at the Eiffel Art Studios on 2 December 2023.
