The last time we heard whistles in the Ybl Palace on Andrássy Avenue was when the Hungarian State Opera company expressed its disapproval of the former management at an earlier season opener. It is quite uncommon for paying spectators on Hungary's theatre scene to express their honest opinions, and many opera-goers' level of appreciation depends on the price of the tickets, not what they see on stage. Perhaps all of this changed on Sunday.
The Hungarian State Opera House is starting its 125th season under new artistic directors. Chief director Lajos Vass is supported by Ádám Fischer as chief musical director and Balázs Kovalik as artistic director. They chose for the launch of this season a premiere of an opera that is often used to inaugurate new opera houses. Though the opera house in Budapest does not need to be inaugurated, many among its audiences wanted something new.
Those who expected Kovalik to present Fidelio in conventional staging were in for a big disappointment. Among the things we saw and heard were retro irons, a rainbow-coloured flag with the word PACE - Latin for "peace", a blue plastic laundry basket, Martens boots, neon halos, a glowing Jesus heart, a mime, a full-scale Mozart marathon, frequent shouts of "Heil!" and a not entirely convincing version of Guantanamo Bay.
Those who could not see a concept, an idea or a message in all this, or refused to hear the music and the genius of Ádám Fischer, who made his debut as a conductor at the opera house, were probably booing because of prejudiced spite. Those who whistled when they saw the conductor -- mistaking him for Kovalik -- maybe only came to the performance to reject it. We will soon see. If audiences regularly boo mediocre artistic performance from now on, then they will develop and become just like audiences in most of Europe. Even if this was just a one-off event, we can be certain that western winds have brought some fresh air to the opera house.
Whispers in the halls suggested Kovalik knew in advance the performance would meet with a nasty response from some members of the audience. Perhaps he was optimistic. Then again, perhaps he staged the whole thing.
Author: Zsolt Koren / Photo: Péter Kollányi MTI
