Hungarian State Opera House
Ybl's 1884 neo-Renaissance opera house on Andrassy Avenue, with opera, ballet and guided tours.
The Hungarian State Opera House opened on 27 September 1884 as the home of the country's national opera company. Designed by Miklos Ybl in a neo-Renaissance manner with Baroque detailing, it was built on Andrassy Avenue, the boulevard laid out to link the inner city with the City Park. The horseshoe auditorium seats around 1,200 and is covered by a ceiling fresco of the Greek gods by Karoly Lotz. Gustav Mahler served as director between 1888 and 1891, and Ferenc Erkel was the company's first music director.
The building underwent a full technical and architectural restoration that closed it for several years; it reopened in March 2022 with restored stonework, gilding and stage machinery. The company performs opera and ballet here and at the nearby Erkel Theatre, and the Hungarian National Ballet is resident. Daily OperaTour visits take in the grand staircase, the foyers and the auditorium, and usually end with a short recital by an Opera soloist. Guided tours are offered in Hungarian and English, with other languages on request.
Highlights
- Karoly Lotz's ceiling fresco above the horseshoe auditorium
- Grand staircase and gilded first-floor foyer by Miklos Ybl
- Gustav Mahler was director of the company from 1888 to 1891
- Daily OperaTour visits ending with a short live recital
