Bánk bán at Hungarian State Opera, Erkel Theatre

Dates: (5/2/2017 - 5/13/2017 )

Theatre:

Hungarian State Opera, Erkel Theatre

II. János Pál pápa tér 30
Budapest,Budapest 1087

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Phone: +36-1/332-7914

Running Time: 3 h 30 min

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Cast Creative Edit

Act I
King Endre II, the monarch of the country, is fighting abroad while Gertrúd, his queen, who is of Meranian birth, plays hostess to the leading members of the Court (in the first place foreigners) at prodigal feasts. Bán Bánk, the king's deputy, is touring the poverty-ridden country while Otto, the Queen's younger brother, is trying to seduce Bánk's beautiful wife Melinda. A group of angry Magyar nobles headed by Bán Petur are plotting a conspiracy against the queen, anxious for the fate of their homeland and the honour of Bánk's wife. Petur has sent for Bánk, hoping to recruit him for their cause. The Bán arrives, but is outraged that his old friend would dare threaten the throne. When Petur informs him of Otto's advances toward Melinda, however, Bánk promises that he shall attend their meeting.

Act II
Bánk, distraught, prays over his nation and his good name. On the porch of the castle of Visegrád, Tiborc, an old peasant, tells Bánk about the desperate poverty of the entire country, a grave consequence of the wasteful extravagance of the foreigners, but Bánk is so overcome by the tragedy of his own position that he listens only halfheartedly. It is revealed that Tiborc, a vassal of the Bán, saved his life at a battle long ago; Bánk promises his aid. Otto, encouraged by the Queen's open approval, attempts to seduce Melinda, without success. He drugs and rapes her. The desperate woman staggers to her husband half insane with shame. In his bitter grief Bánk blasts a terrible curse at his own son, but then raises to himself the innocent little boy, giving solace to his wife. Finally, he asks Tiborc to escort Melinda and their little son to their home, a castle in East Hungary, beyond the River Tisza. In the throne-room Bánk calls the Queen to account for plunging the country into poverty and for the honour of his betrayed wife. Gertrúd counters him with contemptuous scorn and draws a dagger. Bánk wrests the dagger from her hand, and in the scuffle, she is fatally stabbed. Bánk laments over the actions he has been forced to take.

Act III
Tiborc reaches the bank of the Tisza River with Melinda and her little son. In a fit of insanity, Melinda throws herself into the waves together with her son, within view of the helpless old peasant. Endre II returns. Standing by his queen's funeral bier, he calls to the nobles to account for the murder, who deny having had a part in the assault on the Queen. Bánk, however, admits that, convinced of her guilt which was known to all, he killed the Queen deliberately. King and Viceroy face each other with swords almost drawn when Tiborc arrives with the corpses of Melinda and the child. The sword drops from Bánk's grip, and he collapses over the bodies of his wife and son. The nobles and retainers pray for the repose of all the dead.

Cast and Creative team for Bánk bán at Hungarian State Opera, Erkel Theatre

Cast

Conductor
N.N.
II. Endre, king of Hungary
Géza Gábor
Gertrud, his queen
Andrea Ulbrich
A royal officer
N.N.
Ottó, Gertrud's nephew
Tivadar Kiss
Bánk bán, the viceroy
Atilla Kiss B.
Melinda, his wife
Kinga Kriszta
Petur bán, leader of the nobles
Csaba Szegedi
Biberach, knight-errant
Róbert Rezsnyák
Tiborc, a peasant
Tamás Busa

Credits

Music revised by
Jen? Kenessey
Libretto based on the play of the same title by József Katona
Béni Egressy
Libretto revised by
Kálmán Nádasdy
Director
Csaba Káel
Set designer
Attila Csikós
Costume designer
Rita Velich
Choreographer of the dance of the angry nobles
Zoltán Farkas
The dance of the angry nobles are performed by
The members of the Hungarian National Ballet
Chorus director
Kálmán Strausz
Featuring
Honvéd Male Choir

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