Faust bál

Director general of the Hungarian State Opera, host of the gala

Born in Veszprém, he studied trumpet, trombone and piano at the local music school, later at the Liszt Ferenc College in Győr and the Liszt Ferenc Music Academy in Budapest as an opera singer.

Principal music director, conductor of the gala

Péter Halász has been music director of the Hungarian State Opera since April 2014, where he had been acting music director since August 2013 whe he returned to Hungary after several years of international career.

Artistic director of the Hungarian State Opera and director of the main programme

21:00 – 22:00 Ballroom, gala

Ferenc Anger started his studies in his home town of Szeged. As a member of the Hungarian State Opera's chorus, he completed his degree in theatre studies at the University of Theatre and Film Arts in a course led by Levente Osztovits, going on to study theatre directing at Venice's IUAV.

Ballet dancer, ballet master, ballet director of the Hungarian National Ballet, choreographer of the opening waltz

Tamás Solymosi studied the art of ballet at the Hungarian Dance Academy, the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Saint Petersburg, and in Monte Carlo. Having graduated as a ballet artist, he also trained as a ballet teacher and choreographer in the early 2000s. 

Hostess of the gala

The popular TV presenter aimed at a legal profession but she was also attracted by acting and singing. Eventually, she enrolled to the Faculty of Arts. In 2003 she graduated as a journalist, but during her studies she her television career had already started. 

Opera singer, Chamber Singer of the Hungarian Sate Opera (2014/15 season)

Verdi: Macbeth – Lady Macbeth's aria: Si colmi il calice…

Szilvia Rálik began her musical education as a student of Imre Ürmössy at the Béla Bartók Conservatory of Music. She first studied music teaching and chamber music under the guidance of Valéria Berdál at the Szeged Conservatory, before attaining a university degree as a student of Mária Temesi.

Opera singer

Bernstein: West Side Story - Mária's song: I feel pretty...

Born in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, Orsolya Sáfár completed her master's degree in singing and teaching at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest with honours in 2004. After two years at the Hungarian State Opera's OperaStudio, she became a soloist at the Opera from 2006. 

Opera singer

Gounod: Roméo et Juliette – Je veux vivre dans le rêve 

The Budapest-born lyrical coloratura soprano studied at the Ferenc Liszt Conservatory, before continuing her education at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music, from which she graduated in 2014.