Operas, Operettas and Ballet Budapest

Find the best operas, operettas and ballet performances in Budapest that you can still see this year. Have fun!

1. Twilight of the Gods
Richard Wagner’s monumental, romantic Ring tetralogy is not only a distant tale with the heroes of Germanic mythology, but also about the economic, social and ecological changes and value crises of the past two centuries and even more so of the present. The opera, directed by Géza M. Tóth, uses both archaic and futuristic elements, and with its stage language, it presents a world to the audience where it shows: man uses his knowledge, other people and this world in such a way that it necessarily leads to a world catastrophe.
Musical drama in three acts, in German, with Hungarian, English and German subtitles.
Location: Hungarian State Opera
Dates: November 26, 29
Time: 16:00
Price: HUF 12,000-28,900
2. The Bat
Doctor Bat messes up everything at Prince Orlovsky’s masquerade ball… Husbands sentenced to prison, wives who are ready to cheat on their husbands, aspiring actress candidates are hiding under the masks. Finally, the many adventures and fun will end with a visit to the prison, but that’s where the laughter begins! This champagne driven grand operetta is the masterpiece of Johann Strauss, and true to tradition, this work is the crowning glory of the winter holidays. Have fun with us and The Bat!
Grand operetta in three acts, in Hungarian, with English and Hungarian subtitles.
Location: Hungarian State Opera
Date: December 31
Time: 21:00
Price: HUF 2,590-37,900
3. Queen of Csárdás
Attila Kálmán’s immortal masterpiece, The Queen of Csárdás, was added to the repertoire of the Budapest Operetta Theater in September 2019, after its premiere at the Margaret Island Open Air Theater in July, namely in a triple cast. The exceptionally rich production dates back to the original 1916 Hungarian version of the work, which has undergone many revisions, by Andor Gábor. With its aristocratic, bohemian characters, love complications and catchy melodies, the play itself was and has become a monument of lightness, but at the same time, the storm clouds of the disintegration of historical Hungary and the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy also appear in it.
Venue: Budapest Operetta Theatre
Dates: December 9, 10
Time: 19:00
Price: HUF 6,000
4. Messiah
When II. Baron van Swieten’s the head of Maria Theresia’s and her son’s, József’s school programs, commissions Mozart to make transcriptions of four Handel works, no one knows yet that the Messiah will still be a festive treat for the world 250 years later. Mozart shortens the work and enriches it with new instruments, yet, in the spirit of historical thinking that has gained ground, today everyone plays Handel’s original. With the exception of the Opera: here it is believed that with Mozart’s respectful touch, the work could only be enriched and can now be presented to the audience as a joint gift of two geniuses.
Oratorio in three parts, without a break, in Hungarian, with Hungarian and English subtitles.
Location: Hungarian State Opera House
Dates: December 17, 18
Time: 19:00
Price: HUF 5,200-28,900
5. Nutcracker
The holiday season wouldn’t be the same without the fairytale story of the Nutcracker, which can be seen performed by the Royal Ballet on the Castle Garden Bazaar stage. The Royal Ballet’s brilliant production of The Nutcracker was created by Peter Wright in 1984 based on Lev Ivanov’s original choreography, and we can safely say that it has been one of the most loved ballet performances across Europe ever since. The dazzling music of Tchaikovsky, the mesmerizing costumes and sets and the captivating dance of the Royal Ballet make the performance a real Christmas experience for all ages. A true classic, a must-have for the whole family during the Christmas season.
The story, that is based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s work, takes place on Christmas Eve, when Uncle Drosselmayer uses dreams and charms to transport little Clara to the realm of fantasy, where time does not exist and the family living room turns into a battlefield for the evil Mouse King and the lead soldiers. The adventure-filled, magical journey leads through the Snow Empire to Sugarland. Peter Wright’s captivating direction, using sumptuous costumes and sets, used all the nuances of Tchaikovsky’s music, and wove the most beautiful, unsurpassed elements of the original Ivanovic choreography into his tale – such as the beautiful pas de deux of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Knight.
Location: Castle Garden Bazaar
Date: November 27
Time: 11:00
Price: HUF 1900-2900
6. Fiddler on the Roof
The play takes place in Anatevka in the 20th century, a village inhabited by Jews and Russians, where the life of the community is determined by religion and all-encompassing traditions. Tevje, the milkman, lives here with his wife Golde and their five daughters. The father does everything to keep the family together and marry off his daughters according to tradition. However, the girls want to marry for love instead of religious ideals, so the eldest daughter, Cejtel, chooses the poor tailor, Mótel, instead of the wealthy husband; his sister, Hódel, travels to Siberia after her imprisoned lover, Perchik; Hava, the third girl, finds happiness with a boy of a different religion.
Meanwhile, the local Jewish community has to face various trials: the growing anti-Semitism, political movements and finally the decree that they have to leave the land of their ancestors, leaving behind their property.
In Hungary, the play was presented for the first time at the Operetta Theater on February 9, 1973, directed by László Vámos, with Ferenc Bessenyei in the lead role. A very important work, which forms a kind of transition between the genres of operetta and musical, it appeals to the audience with its special musical world and bittersweet humor. The play was banned in 1974, and only eleven years later, in 1985, it was presented again, also at the Budapest Operetta Theatre.
Musical.
Venue: Budapest Operetta Theatre
Dates: December 2, 3, 4
Time: 14:30, 19:00
Price: HUF 2,250-14,000
7. The Phantom of the Opera
The lights of the chandelier come on, and the former Paris Opera House shines in its old glory, and the story of a great love is recalled. Characters: Raoul, the romantic young count and Christine, the charming, talented singer. However, there is a mysterious third person standing between the two of them, who does everything against their happiness.The mysterious third: the Phantom of the Opera, who lives in the labyrinth under the theater. This man will stop at nothing to win Christine’s love. Who is this fantastic creature? A brilliant musician, scientist, architect, inventor, passionate lover or monster-born extortionist murderer?
Musical.
Venue: Madách Theatre
Date: November 26
Time: 15:00
Price: HUF 7,300-8,300

Photo: Hungarian State Opera

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