"We have inherited this season's premieres as part of the entire programme schedule and plan, but the musical director and I have decided to stage Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg anyway. It is not certain that the work in question would have been among the premieres in the first or the second year if this were the season that we had originally planned. Nevertheless, I think that we have made a good decision," Hungarian State Opera director Árpád Jutocsa Hegyi told a press conference.
The decision follows tension at the opera after Hegyi decided to strike a number of performances from the season?s programme with the aim of reducing the opera?s losses. The move incited several of Hegyi?s colleagues to call for his resignation, but the director stood firm by his decision to ?modernise? the opera.
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg will be directed by Attila Vidnyánszky and conducted by János Kovács and Russia?s Yuri Simonov. Alexandr Belozub will be in charge of stage and costume design. The leading role of Hans Sach will be shared by Gyula Gurbán and Germany?s Friedmann Kunder.
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg is being performed by the opera for the first time in 15 years. Other works by Wagner to be performed by the opera this season include the Ring cycle, Parsifal, and Tannhäuser.
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg was first presented in Hungary at the National Theatre in 1883. It was performed at the opera in 1887. Since then, the opera has staged the work almost 300 times.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
