Csokonai Theatre
Opera in Three Acts
On October 7, 1865, in a solemn ceremony, Debrecen’s first and only stone theatre opened its doors – today it bears the name of Mihály Vitéz Csokonai. At the opening performance exactly 160 years ago – featuring József Katona’s drama Bánk bán – the celebrated writer Mór Jókai was among the audience, and the actress Róza Laborfalvi also took the stage. The theatre, which Jókai called “the altar of our spirit,” was a historic achievement in the life of the city: an institution came into being that continues to define not only the cultural landscape of Debrecen, but of the entire region. Now, 160 years later, we commemorate that historic opening with Ferenc Erkel’s operatic adaptation of Bánk bán, paying tribute to those who selflessly supported the creation of the Theatre and thanks to whom we may continue this invaluable work that began here, within these walls, in 1865.
Under the direction of Kossuth Prize laureate Attila Vidnyánszky, two vastly different worlds appear, each with its own truths and beauty within its closed reality, yet without harmonious passage between them – instead, they evoke tension and dissonance. The story is driven by eternal and universal human emotions such as envy, hatred, and jealousy – forces that will remain absolutely comprehensible even a hundred years from now to anyone who has ever felt the pulse of human emotion, not only to those familiar with Hungarian history. A tale carrying the depth of Shakespearean royal dramas, elevated by the power of music to even more poetic heights, is brought to life by Hungary’s outstanding opera singers, who are also recognized on the international stage.
Director: Attila Vidnyánszky Kossuth Award winner
