Gergely Kesselyák at a rehearsal for Turandot (photo: György Németh MTI)
"It is a wonderful but not at all easy role, and I step on stage in one of my favourite cities with much joy and anticipation," Rálik said. "I had never sung the title role of Turandot in the past. I was asked to do it a few years ago but refused it then. However, I could not resist Gergely Kesselyák and the fantastic atmosphere of Dóm Square."
Szilvia Rálik
Rálik will be joined on stage by Csaba Bede-Fazekas, Géza Gábor, Tamás Cselóczki, Anna Herczenik, Antal Cseh, Zoltán Nyári, Tamás Kóbor, Tamás Altorjay, Attila Kozma and Áron Angyal.
Turandot was last performed at the Szeged Open Air Festival in 1991, but this year's production - timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the composer's birth - promises a unique interpretation of the opera.
Rálik last shared the temporary summer stage on Szeged's Dóm Square with the great José Cura. She has also performed at the festival in productions of Nabucco, directed by Kesselyák, and in The Csardas Princess, directed by Róbert Alföldi.
Turandot will be performed in Szeged on July 4 and 6.
