This year?s theme was Bartók and Verismo, the Italian opera form which depicted realistic ? hence the name ?verismo? ? sometimes sordid pictures of everyday life. Some of the genre?s most famous representatives were Alfano, Cilea, Giordano, Leoncavallo, Mascagni and Puccini.
The festival?s programme included 13 operas, three dance performances, 22 concerts, and 16 other shows, said festival spokeswoman Eszter Barázda. The programme even contained some operas never before shown in Hungary: Franco Alfano's Resurrection and Umberto Giordano's Siberia.
Giordano's Fedora was performed as a concert. In the lead was Giuseppe Giacomini, whose interpretation of the role is world famous. Opposite Giacomini?s Loris was Fedor, sung by Éva Marton, who earlier sang with Giacomini in the same role at Carnegie Hall.
Among the festival?s most successful events was a performance of Carmen by the Miskolc National Theatre with Marianna Tarasova in the lead, Barázda said.
In addition to Miskolc, festival events were held in nearby Aggtelek, Sátoraljaújhely, Ózd, Kazincbarcika, and Edelény. About 3,000 artists participated at the festival, Barázda said.
Next year?s Miskolc International Opera Festival will have as its theme Bartók and French composers, Barázda said.
