The Opera House was the brainchild of National Theatre director Bódog Orczy. He had the idea to build a musical theatre, separate from the National Theatre, in 1872, around the same time the Budapest leaders started building an avenue that would link the centre of the city with its main park (today's Andrássy Avenue). It was decided the Opera House would be built on the avenue, and land was purchased, on the cheap, at the site of a flea market.
The tender to build the structure was won by Miklós Ybl in 1873, although he reworked the plans several times. The end result was in Neo-Renaissance style with sculptures and murals by some of Hungary's most famous artists, including Alajos Stróbl, Mór Than, Bertalan Székely and Károly Lotz.
Ground was broken on October 11, 1875 and the structure was completed in December 1878, but financial difficulties at the end of the decade slowed down the project as its planned cost rose from about HUF 2 million to more than HUF 3 million, and it did not open its doors until 1884.
With the exception of the bronze chandelier in the main theatre, which was made in Mainz, and hydraulic stage equipment supplied by the Asphaleia company in Vienna, the entire building was made by Hungarian subcontractors.
The inaugural performance included the overture from László Hunyadi and the first act of Wagner's Lohengrin. The first troupe was formed by members of the National Theatre's opera troupe, with musical director Ferenc Erkel, choir director Sándor Erkel and chief director Gyula Káldy.
At the start, the Opera House company performed the repertoire of the National Theatre troupe which included 37 operas and 7 ballets. The first premier, of Ferenc Erkel's King Stephen, took place in 1885.
During the first golden age of the opera house (1888-1891), the ambitious director Gustav Mahler focused on building a new troupe and developing a modern repertoire. He presented the first two pieces from Wagner's Ring cycle and was responsible for the success of Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana.
The Opera House, which was renamed the Hungarian State Opera House in 1945, underwent an extensive renovation starting in 1980. The project was completed on the hundredth anniversary of its founding.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI) / Photo: MTI
