Kodály Zoltán: Háry János
A century ago, the world first encountered this remarkable opus, a work that soon became one of the cornerstones of twentieth-century musical innovation.
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Premiered in 1926, the singspiel is a milestone in Hungarian music history: its composer, Zoltán Kodály, fulfilled his aspiration to elevate Hungarian folk song of ancient origin to the same status as classical music, by virtue of its equivalent values, placing it on the stage of the nation’s Opera House. The Hungarian historical tale woven from folk songs blends elements of science fiction, the absurd, and at times painful historical reality, yet remains firmly grounded in love of homeland and pure love. The main roles of the hundred-year-old work are performed by two Hungarian artists from beyond our borders: Csaba Sándor from Transylvania and Gabriella Balga from Slovakia. It is staged by Transylvania-born Attila Béres, director of the Miskolc National Theatre, as his first production at the Opera House. His interpretation respects the spirit of the original while remaining open to the possibilities of the present. This centenary staging invites audiences to rediscover the opera’s timeless beauty, cultural significance, and extraordinary ability to build a bridge between past and present through the universal language of music. At the conductor’s podium stands Péter Halász, the OPERA’s principal guest conductor and former music director.
Rights of Zoltán Kodály were brokered by the Hartai Music Agency.
Hungarian State Opera
The Hungarian State Opera House is the only theatre in Hungary with a large company, specialising in operas and ballets. The building is one of Budapest's most important 19th century monuments. It was built in neo-Renaissance style according to the plans of Miklós Ybl. The richly decorated interior was designed by renowned Hungarian artists, including Mór Than, Károly Lotz and Bertalan Székely.
