Dankó Pista Grand Operetta
Based on the life and songs of Dankó Pista Written by Dénes János Orbán and Péter Pejtsik
Unbridled passion, pulsating Gypsy music, and a rule-breaking love story – the most spectacular operetta show of all time awaits audiences on 26 March 2026 at the MVM Dome. The brand-new operetta Dankó Pista, featuring music by Péter Pejtsik and a libretto by Dénes János Orbán, offers a glimpse into the romantic and legendary life of the king of Hungarian folk song.
Schedule
The protagonist is Dankó Pista, the Gypsy violin virtuoso celebrated throughout Europe, whose heart is stolen by a mysterious Russian princess. Among the characters appear Lujza Blaha, the “Nightingale of the Nation,” as well as the era’s most renowned poets and writers: Endre Ady, Géza Gárdonyi, and Lajos Pósa.
With the stars of the Budapest Operetta Theatre and the participation of hundreds of dancers and musicians, a breathtaking superproduction comes to life—one that stirs the heart and shakes the soul. Dankó’s most beloved hits—My Violin Is Broken; They Still Say There Are No Witches in Szeged; One Kitty, Two Kitties…—are reborn on a truly grand stage, as for one unforgettable evening the entire arena floor of the MVM Dome is transformed into a spectacular performance space. Directed by Yvette Bozsik, with costumes by Krisztina Berzsenyi and set and visual design by Attila Ferenczfy-Kovács, the collaboration of these three outstanding artists guarantees an unforgettable theatrical experience.
MVM Dome
MVM Dome is the seventh largest indoor event venue in Europe. Its capacity for sports events and concerts is significantly higher than that of the Budapest Sports Arena. It has 20,022 seats; a total of 50,000 square metres of floor space; innovative, rearrangeable spaces for many indoor sports (handball, basketball and volleyball, futsal, ice hockey, tennis, skating) as well as certain athletic, equestrian and motorcycle competitions, and even swimming competitions and water polo matches in the mobile pool. Through the six entrances to the building, spectators can enter the arena’s interior using eight escalators, leading to the walk-through grandstands accessible on three levels. The structure of the building’s exterior is reminiscent of muscle fibres: the light strips placed on the outward-leaning, elliptical sections not only embrace the building, but the light shows, programmed using various colours, appear to set the entire building in motion. There is a 600 square metre display on the façade of the building. The Main Entrance leads to an impressive foyer, where visitors will be greeted by a grandiose hanging light installation of 848 handmade glass tubes. The programmable sports lighting is also suitable for HDTV broadcasts of the highest-level world competitions, as well as for super-slow-motion recordings due to flicker free technology. The lighting system also plays an important role in the events and concerts, as it is suitable for changing the colour temperature of the auditorium, which means that the lighting functions can be changed without rearranging the arena, only through the pre-programmed lighting controls. This design is the first and is unique in Europe for luminaires of this power. A central display (cube) provides information in the auditorium during the events.