Aleszja Popova and Vladimir Arhangelski

were fabulous in 

the Nutcracker ballet!

 The whole performance was excellent

and so beautiful.

 Rose Waltz

Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker ballet

at the Hungarian Opera House

on Andrassy ut

on Saturday Dec.10.

Norma

"Casta Diva"

The grand finale of the cultural week was

Bellini's Norma at the National Opera in Budapest

on Sunday evening

Szilvia Rálik as Norma

- beautiful voice but perhaps more suitable for Wagner

Good production!

- the tragic story is happening around 50BC near Roma
http://www.opera.hu/

Gone With The Wind

On Friday evening went to see a ballet version

of "Gone With The Wind" at the National Opera in Budapest

- charming production:

excellent choreographia, good music, beautiful dresses...

- the story was the same as in the film

http://www.opera.hu/

Der Rosenkavalier

Wednesday was an opera night

with mom & auntie

.

Der Rosenkavalier (The Knight of the Rose) is

a comic opera in three acts by Richard Strauss.

It was first performed at the Königliches Opernhaus

in Dresden on 26 January 1911.

.

The opera is quite long, 4,5h with 2 intervalls

- the stage was a bit contemporary
as can be seen in the photo

- the Marschallin had a great voice!

Sophies's voice was a bit weak,

but it was told before the performance

that she's been sick

.

Carmen

Had tickets to Georges Bizet's Carmen

for Thursday night

- stalls 2nd row

.

Éva Pánczél as Carmen

- great voice

- always a bit disturbing when

Carmen has put on some weight

and

Don José & Escamillo aren't so very handsome...
.

Anyway, best Carmen production

that've seen in Budapest!

.