New Years Eve Opera Gala And Ball

A camel visiting the Opera

We have already written about the New Years concert of the London Philharmonic Orchestra taking place on the first of January, 2009. But, if you are looking for an event on the 31st of December this might be the one. If you want to finish the year in beautiful surroundings and with elite company, the Hungarian State Opera might be the place. The famous Gundel Restaurant will serve the food!

Program of the Gala Night:
20.00 Welcoming of guests in the aula with a welcome cocktail
20.30 Parts of the popular operetta of Johann Strauss, the Bat
21.30 GUNDEL dinner
Served on the stage, banquet halls and galleries of the Hungarian State Opera,
23.00 Performance by the popular Erox Martini
24.00 National Anthem
Champagne
Opening dance by professional dancers
Ball until early morning

There will also be an opera ball in Budapest the 21st February.


Other events in Budapest

Opera Ball 2009, 21 February

The annual Opera Ball will take place on the 21 February in 2009. The star guest will be Richard Clayderman, so if you like him you have one more excuse to come visit the Hungarian State Opera.

The event is not a cheap thing; tickets start from 84.000 forints. For ticket booking, programme and more information go to operabal.com.

Richard Clayderman

Short History of the Budapest Opera Ball: (source: operabal.com)
A social event has been reborn where the leading persons of the middle class that is to say the Hungarian culture, knowledge, power and money meet one another each year. The opera ball had been first organised in 1886 and, after an interval of 62 years, it has revived in 1996. Representing the 111 years' tradition, it has become the largest and most important meeting of the participants of the Hungarian public life winning the keenest attention of the public opinion already the first time.

Other events in Budapest

New Erkel Theater to be built

Many people who have been looking for cheap theater and opera tickets in Budapest have been to the Erkel Theater. Located near the Keleti Pályaudvar the location is not the best, and the building in itself is in very bad condition. So many have probably thought afterwards that they would rather have used some more money, and gone to the State Opera instead. Anyway, good news are on the way!

The government has decided to destroy the Erkel Theater (Erkel Színház) for then to build up a brand new and modern theater instead. It is expected to be finished by the autumn in 2012, and the Opera is allowed to use this one for performances 180 days a year. Living for more than two years we all know that expected times for buildling or highways to be finished almost never succeed, so it will for sure be at least 2013 before it is finished, but it is anyway good news that they will build a new Erkel Theater.

If you can read hungarian, and want even more details about the Erkel Színház, you can read this article from Népszabadság.

Camel visiting the Opera in Budapest

During a guided tour today we got to see this funny sight. Enjoy it :)

"They are forcing me to go to the Opera"

"I would rather visit Belcanto and listen to the singing waiters'"

"You should visit Budapest as well!"