Befogad és kitaszít a világ - Mácsai Pál és Huzella Péter Villon estje

The Mexican-born tenor’s singing career began in an unusual way: baritone Arturo Nieto knocked on his door after hearing him sing and suggested he train his voice.

As it is a latent Kodály season, it seems only fitting that the concert at the OPERA honouring the events of 1956 should feature works by the composer. In that same year, the short-lived Revolutionary Council of Hungarian Intellectuals elected him as its president. Throughout his entire oeuvre, Kodály consistently reinforced Hungarian national identity. The programme gains both colour and a ceremonial character from the hymn-like and dance-infused compositions of his middle and later years.

For the 14th time, the performance of the famous Symphony No. 9 will dominate the OPERA’s New Year celebrations. In 2027, the programme will be completed by two further classical works: Beethoven’s overture, also enhanced by Mahler, and a cello concerto by Haydn, the latter of course featuring an OPERA soloist.