Olasz Estély

Artistic director, director of the gala

András Almási-Tóth graduated from the University of Theatre and Film Arts in 1997, after studying in the theatre directing course there. In 2006, he also obtained his doctoral degree there. An associate professor at Budapest’s Franz Liszt Academy of Music, he has headed the institution's opera programme since 2009. He has taught at the University of Theatre and Film Arts Budapest, the Gáspár Károli University of the Reformed Church, the Hungarian University of Fine Arts and Budapest Metropolitan University and has also held workshops at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt am Main, Berlin’s Universitat der Künste and at Florence's Conservatorio di Musica Luigi Cherubini. 

Polina Pasztircsák was born in Budapest into a Hungarian family of artists with Russian roots. She started her international career after winning the famous Geneva International Music Competition in 2009. Since that time she is singing in opera houses and concert halls around Europe. 

Principal music director, conductor of the gala

After completing his studies in Hungary and Austria, the Opera House's principal music director, Balázs Kocsár, reinvigorated the practice of opera performance in the city of Debrecen. The Opera's conductor is also recognised internationally, and has conducted more than a thousand performances in a dozen countries over the past decades. His wide repertoire includes works ranging in style from the Baroque to contemporary opera.

Opera singer

Miskolc-born Gergely Boncsér is equally at home in the genres of operetta and opera. After winning the Opera's scholarship, he went on to join its Opera Studio. He made his debut as Rodolfo in La bohème, a role he continues to sing.

Opera singer

Born in Gyergyóremete (Remetea), Levente Molnár is well known to both the Munich and Budapest audiences. A member of the Bayerische Staatsoper for years, he has also appeared at both London's Covent Garden and the Wiener Staatsoper.

Opera singer

Opera singer

Debrecen-born singer Erika Gál has been recognised with numerous awards over the course of her career, and she is as familiar a figure abroad as she is in Hungary. Her repertoire includes major roles from Tchaikovsky, Verdi and Wagner, and she has also memorably sung both Carmen and the Queen of Sheba.

Opera Singer

From Dresden to Paris and from Vienna to Prague, Atala Schöck is invited to sing at opera houses all over. In addition to opera roles from Mozart, Bizet and Berlioz, the opera singer also includes oratorical works by Bach, Handel, Rossini and Vivaldi in her wide-ranging repertoire.

Opera singer

Born in Mezőtúr, Viktória Mester has worked with outstanding conductors since the very start of her career. As a member of the National Theatre of Miskolc, she enchanted audiences in the role of Carmen, and at the Opera House, she takes the stage in operas by Rossini, Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Strauss.

Opera singer

Ágnes Molnár made her opera debut at age 21, in a performance of Ferenc Erkel's Hunyadi László in Győr. She would later also sing the roles of Zerlina, Susanna and Musetta, while also gaining early experience in operetta and contemporary classical music.

Plácido Domingo, a true renaissance man

Plácido Domingo is the King of Opera, recognised not only as one of the finest and most influential singing actors in the history of opera but also as a respected conductor and a major force as an opera administrator.
 

Bence Apáti, a member of the Opera since 2000, is a soloist with the Hungarian National Ballet