Hungarian State Opera House

The building of the Hungarian State Opera House (Hungarian: Operaház ) is one of the most splendid examples of Renaissance Revival architecture in the Pest side of the capital Budapest. It can be found in the VI. District ( Terézváros ) at the Andrássy út 22

The Opera House was built in 1875-1884 and financed by the city of Budapest, and the Emperor Franz Joseph. The Hungarian Royal Opera House, as it was then called, was inaugurated on 27 September 1884. The building is very richly decorated with Baroque elements, with numerous ornaments, paintings and sculptures. Particularly noteworthy are the murals on stairs and the auditorium of the opera, which were made by Bertalan Székely, Mór Than and Károly Lotz. The Budapest Opera House is considered one of the masterpieces of Ybl and one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world.

Front of the building you will find a statue of Ferenc Erkel, respectively, the composer of the Hungarian national anthem, and of Franz Liszt, both created by Alajos Stróbl.

Ferenc Erkel was the first director of the opera, but also the significant Austrian composer Gustav Mahler held here from 1888 to 1891, the Director held office. Even Puccini has twice personally directed the premieres of his operas here.

One of the leading conductors of the State Opera include Otto Klemperer, Sergio Failoni and Lamberto Gardelli.

Second home of the Hungarian State Opera House is the Erkel Theatre.

Others

Opera is also the station name on Line 1 of the Budapest Metro.

Karl Pauker, the commander of Stalin's bodyguard, early 20th century, worked for some time as a hairdresser at the Budapest Opera.

The Italian horror film director Dario Argento used the Opera in large part for his film The Phantom of the Opera. However, the Katakombenaufnahmen contained therein do not originate, therefore, but were - as reflected in the credits of the film - shot in the Pertosa Carves Salerno.