The Hungarian State Opera is proud to present Ádám Tulassay’s new interpretation of Verdi’s Requiem, a staged production featuring remarkable Hungarian soloists Andrea Brassói-Jőrös, Andrea Szántó, István Kovácsházi, and Krisztián Cser. The musical performance will be brought to life by the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra and Chorus under the direction of conductor Péter Dobszay.
Hans von Bülow’s oft-quoted critique, referring to Verdi’s Requiem as “an opera in ecclesiastical costume,” aptly captures the widespread perception that, despite its foundation in the Catholic liturgical structure and text, Verdi’s Requiem transcends religious content to convey a universal message of mourning. The work endeavors to express a range of emotions, including Verdi’s own, utilizing techniques familiar from his stage operas. The composer was moved to write the funeral mass following the deaths of two esteemed compatriots: composer Gioachino Rossini and poet Alessandro Manzoni, a prominent figure in Italy’s unification, known as the Risorgimento. Verdi’s Requiem reflects the gamut of emotions associated with grief, from pain and sadness to anger and fear of judgment day, culminating in a hopeful longing for peace. These emotions are conveyed with the dramatic intensity typically found on opera stages rather than in church services.
Director Ádám Tulassay, an alumnus of the School of Music Hanns Eisler Berlin and Screen Academy Scotland, was tasked by the Hungarian State Opera to stage these dramatic emotions. Tulassay made his directorial debut with Puccini’s Edgar in 2019 at the Hungarian State Opera. For this production of Verdi’s Requiem, the visual interpretation crafted by the creative team—including set designer Angéla Csúcs, costume designer Krisztina Lisztopád, choreographer Márton Csuzi, animation designer Zsombor Czeglédi, and lighting designer Tamás Pillinger—draws inspiration from Fritz Lang’s iconic film Metropolis. The concept portrays death as the absence of life, interpreting the various movements of Verdi’s work as a series of emotionally charged scenes viewed through the perspective of the soprano, performed by Andrea Brassói-Jőrös, and her contemplation of death and judgment day.
Following its successful world premiere in 1874, Verdi’s Requiem had its Hungarian premiere a year later at the National Theatre, conducted by Sándor Erkel. The first performance at the Opera House was conducted by Sergio Failoni in 1903, and it became a staple in the repertoire around All Souls’ Day from 1930. This tradition was interrupted after the communist regime came to power, but the work was revived in 1964 in memory of Mihály Székely, gradually reestablishing its place in the repertoire. The practice of performing the Requiem around All Souls’ Day was reinstated in 1991.
Following the premiere on November 2, 2024, Verdi’s Requiem will also be staged on November 3, 10, and 15 at the Budapest Opera House, offering audiences multiple opportunities to experience this poignant and powerful production.
