Operas
Gyöngyösi’s first opera, THE STORK CALIPH (1999), served as his diploma work at the Liszt Academy of Music, and won 2nd prize at the Hungarian State Opera’s Millennium Opera Competition. The opera’s libretto, based on the post-Freudian short novel by Mihály Babits, was written by Zsófia Balla, and the piece premiered by the Opera House in 2005 under the stage direction of Mária Harangi.
THE MASTER AND MARGARITA (2017), which is based on M. A. Bulgakov’s world-famous novel (librettist: Szabolcs Várady), is an exciting attempt to combine the genres of opera and musical. In addition to the symphonic orchestra, the work features a rock band as well. The different musical materials of the two types of ensemble interact specially in the work: some movements are written in a purely contemporary operatic style, while others exhibit a purely rock music conception; and there are movements in which the two completely different musical worlds appear side by side and alternate depending on the singer performing. The work premiered in 2021 by the Hungarian State Opera under the stage direction of Vajk Szente, and a full audio recording was made after the first performance.
The Master and Margarita
Opera-musical in two acts based on M. A. Bulgakov’s novel of the same title. Libretto: Szabolcs Várady
Duration: 75+70′
Year of composition: 2015-2017
Movements: 24
Orchestration: Picc, 2 Fl, 2 Ob, Cor.ing, 2 Cl, Clar.b, 2 Fag, Cfag, 4 Cor, 3 Tr, 3 Trb, Tuba, Timp, Vibr, Trg, Camp.tub, 2 Tamb.picc, Tamb, P-tti, Ptto sosp, 3 Tomtom, Tam-tam, Gr. c., Arpa, 2 Guitars (el), Bass guitar (el), 2 Synth (el), Drum Set, Archi
Venues and dates of first performances:
1: 06. 24, 2017, Miskolc (BartókPlusz Opera Festival); 2: 2021. 02. 13, Eiffel Art Studios Budapest (whole work, full stage performance)
Casting:
1: Woland – Krisztián Cser, Master – Péter Balczó, Margarita – Orsolya Sáfár, Hella – Ildikó Szakács, Behemoth – Zoltán Gavodi, Bassoon – Tivadar Kiss, Berlioz – András Hábetler, Latunsky – László Kálmán, Ivan Bezdhomny – Donát Varga, Pilate – István Kovács; Cantemus Choir, Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra, cond. by Gábor Hollerung;
2: Woland – Péter Kálmán, Master – Péter Balczó, Margarita – Orsolya Sáfár, Hella – Ildikó Szakács, Behemoth – Zoltán Gavodi, Bassoon – Tivadar Kiss, Berlioz – András Hábetler, Latunsky – Jenő Dékán, Ivan Bezdhomny – Donát Varga, Pilate – István Kovács; Choir & Orchestra of Hungarian State Opera, cond. by Gábor Hollerung, stage director: Vajk Szente
The Stork Caliph
Opera in 2 acts based on Mihály Babits’ novel of the same title. Libretto: Zsófia Balla
2nd prize-winning work, Millennium Opera Competition of the Hungarian State Opera (2000)
Duration: 65′ + 70′
Composition year : 1998-1999
Movements: 11 scenes
Orchestration: 2 Fl. (Picc.), 2 Ob (Cor.ing.), 2 Cl. (Clar. b.), 2 Fag (Cfag), 4 Cor, 3 Tr, 3 Trb, Trb. cb, Timp, Vibr, Trg, Camp.tub, 2 Tamb.picc, Tamb, P-tti, Ptto sosp, 3 Tomtom, Tam-tam, Gr. c., Arpa, Chit, Chit. b. (el.), Hammond-org. (el.), Archi. On the stage: 6 Fl. dolci, Vlc, Tamb.
Venues & dates of the first performances:
1.: 05. 05, 1999, Music Academy Budapest (only the 1st act); 2.: 04. 26, 2000, Hungarian Radio (only scenes 7-11); 3.: 10. 23, 2001, Millenáris Teátrum (whole work, semi-staged performance; 4.: 05. 28, 2005, Hungarian State Opera (whole work, full-stage premiere)
Casting:
1.: Elemér – Máté Sólyom-Nagy; Apprentice – Zoltán Bátki-Fazekas; Sylvia/Wife of the Master – Andrea Meláth; Mother – Andrea Csereklyei; Father/Master – Géza Gábor; I. Assistant – János Ocsovai; II. Assistant – Zoltán Gavodi; Housemaid – Gabriella Gál; Little Girl – Krisztina Bakó; Choir of the Music Academy Budapest, Excanto Recorder Ensemble, MÁV Symphony Orchestra, cond. by György Vashegyi
2.: Elemér – Máté Sólyom-Nagy; Apprentice – Ákos Ambrus; Etelka – Andrea Csereklyei; Sylvia – Apollónia Szolnoki; Master: Géza Gábor; II. Assistant: Zoltán Gavodi; Choir & Orchestra of the Hungarian Radio, cond. by György Vashegyi
3.: Elemér – Máté Sólyom-Nagy; Apprentice – Zoltán Bátki-Fazekas; Etelka – Andrea Csereklyei; Sylvia – Judit Németh; Mother – Etelka Csavlek; Father – Balázs Póka; Master – Géza Gábor; Wife of the Master – Klára Kolonits; I. Assistant – Péter Drucker; II. Assistant – Zoltán Gavodi; Housemaid – Judit Béres; Purcell Choir, Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra, cond. by György Vashegyi, stage director: Csaba Káel
4.: Elemér – Máté Sólyom-Nagy / Róbert Rezsnyák; Apprentice – Ákos Ambrus / Attila Réti; Sylvia – Apollónia Szolnoki / Kornélia Bakos; Etelka – Anna Herczenik / Eszter Wierdl; Mother – Andrea Csereklyei / Etelka Csavlek; Master – János Tóth; Wife of the Master – Eszter Somogyi / Gabriella Felber; II. Assistant: Zoltán Gavodi / József Csapó; Housemaid – Cleo Mitilineou; Little Girl – Krisztina Bakó; Choir & Orchestra of Hungarian State Opera House, cond. by György Vashegyi; stage director: Mária Harangi
Act I, Scene 3
Act II, Scene 7
Performers: Elemér – Máté Sólyom-Nagy; Apprentice – Ákos Ambrus; Sylvia – Apollónia Szolnoki; Mother – Etelka Csavlek; Master: János Tóth; II. Assistant – Zoltán Gavodi; Choir & Orchestra of Hungarian State Opera House, cond. by György Vashegyi
The Stork Caliph – review of Géza Fodor
The Stork Caliph – review of Tibor Tallián
The Stork Caliph – review of István Németh G.
The Stork Caliph – review of Orsolya Kónya
Tragoedia temporis
Opera in 4 acts based on the drama The Tragedy Of Man by Imre Madách. Libretto: András Visky & Judit Ágnes Kiss
Duration: Act I: 49′
Year of composition: 2022–
Movements: 34
Orchestration: Picc, 2 Fl, 2 Ob, (II. Cor.ing), 2 Cl (II. Clar.b), 4 Fag (IV. Cfag), 4 Cor, 3 Tr, 3 Trb, Tuba, Timp, Glsp, Vibr, Mar, Trg, Camp.tub, Crot, Sonagli, Tamb, P-tti, Ptto sosp, Claves, Guiro, Talking Drum, Tomb. picc, 3 Tomtom, Tam-tam, Gr. c., Arpa, 2 Guitars (ac.), 2 Synth (el), Archi
Venues and dates of the first performances:
1: 04. 12, 2023, Palace of Arts Budapest (Act I, concert performance)
Casting:
1: The Lord – Krisztián Cser; Child – Eszter Zemlényi; Lucifer – Csaba Sándor; Adam – Zoltán Megyesi; Eve – Gabriella Balga; Cantemus Choir, Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra, cond. by Gábor Hollerung
Audio (Nr. 6 Finale)
Performers: The Lord – Krisztián Cser; Child – Eszter Zemlényi; Lucifer – Csaba Sándor; Adam – Zoltán Megyesi; Eve – Gabriella Balga; Cantemus Choir, Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra, cond. by Gábor Hollerung
