Hunyadi László
Music by Ferenc Erkel · libretto by Béni Egressy · premiered 1844
Hunyadi László (László Hunyadi) is an opera in three, originally four acts by the Hungarian composer Ferenc Erkel. The libretto, by Béni Egressy, is based on the play Két László by Lőrinc Tóth. The opera was first performed at the Pesti Nemzeti Magyar Szinház, Budapest on 27 January 1844. Hunyadi László is considered to be the first important Hungarian opera and Erkel's musical style draws on folk influences, particularly the dance known as the verbunkos. The opera was reworked in 1935 by Kálmán Nádasdy, Gusztáv Oláh and Miklós Radnai, which is what is usually performed today. This rework changed the libretto almost completely, switched around and even removed some parts, shortening the piece by about 15-20 minutes.
Text from the Wikipedia article "Hunyadi László (opera)", licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
About the Composer
Ferenc Erkel (Hungarian: Erkel Ferenc Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈɛrkɛl ˈfɛrɛnt͡s], German: Franz Erkel; November 7, 1810 – June 15, 1893) was a Hungarian composer, conductor and pianist. He was the father of Hungarian grand opera, written mainly on historical themes, which are still often performed in Hungary. He also composed the music of "Himnusz", the national anthem of Hungary, which was adopted in 1844. He died in Budapest.
Text from the Wikipedia article "Ferenc Erkel", licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Other Operas by Ferenc Erkel
- Bátori Mária (1840)
- Bánk bán (1861)
- György Dózsa (1867)
- Brankovics György (1874)
- István király (1886)