Hungary - Budapest
Budapest State Opera

Designed by Miklos Ybl, the Magyar Állami Operahás was built by Hungarian artist and craftsmen. It opened in 1884 under the rule of Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz-Joseph.

The pomp of the royal opening couldn’t hide the reality of an over-extended budget, which delayed development of the musical program and resulted in pricey tickets. From 1888-1891, director Gustav Mahler and István Kerner raised the musical standards and invited foreign musicians to perform in an effort to inspire Hungarian singers. Sandor Henesi, who became the director in 1912, set about building up the repertoire with the help of Italian conductor Egisto Tango.

The 1920s and 1930s in Hungary (as in all of Europe) were times of artistic innovation and excitement. The opera house played an important role by introducing talented, young conductors like János Ferencsik and György Solti (now Sir Georg), who conducted Le Nozze di Figaro in 1938. The seasons were illuminated by guests appearances by the most illustrious names of the music world: Thomas Beecham, Bruno Walter, and Herbert von Karajan conducted, and Benjamino Gigli sang with Hungarian performers of international stature.

In 1980, the opera house closed for reconstruction and reopened on September 21, 1984 (exactly one hundred years after its opening), to a new world, ready to face up to the challenges and changes occurring in central Europe.