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The opera's Erkel Theatre officially closed after a farewell concert on Saturday. The building will remain closed for reconstruction until 2011.
The company's management will discus all of the possibilities related to the reconstruction in the coming days, said General Director Lajos Vass.
Already, several plans are being drawn up allowing greater synergy between the Hungarian State Opera and the Erkel Theatre. The opera's management is in talks with the Finance Ministry as well as the Ministry of Education and Culture on funding - both public and private - available to modernise the Erkel Theatre.
Vass confirmed that the opera will hold 41 performances at the Thália Theatre during the 2007-2008 season, as stipulated in the contract. The opera company will also rehearse at the theatre, though it will still use the stage at the Erkel Theatre for rehearsals of La forza del destino and Elektra.
The opera is still searching, however, for venues for special productions, Vass said.
The Hungarian State Opera will open its 2007-2008 season with a performance of Ferenc Erkel's Bánk bán, with András Molnár in the lead, at the opera house on September 7. The first performance at the Thália Theatre - Mozart's Magic Flute - will take place on September 26.
In November, after the Stravinsky performances, the opera will show Richard Strauss's Elektra, directed by Balázs Kovalik, at the opera house. In March, the premiere of the ballet Bihari nótája will take place at the Ybl Palace, and Tchaikovsky's Onegin, directed by Gábor Zsámbéki, will be performed in May.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
