The Magician of the Orpheum (Peter Pejtsik) Budapest 2023 Budapest Operetta Theatre
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Information on the Performance
- Work Title: The Magician of the Orpheum or Orfeum magusa
- Composer: Pejtsik Peter
- Libretto: John Denes Orban Libretto Text, Libretto Index
- Venue & Opera Company: Budapest Operetta Theatre, Budapest, Hungary
- Recorded: 2023
- Type: Staged Opera Live
- Singers: Attila Dolhai, Zsolt Homonnay, Loránt Nagy, Monica Fischl, Anita Lukacs, Nikolett Füredi, Diana Kiss, Barbara Bordas, Eniko Levai, Sylvi Szendy
- Conductor: Gyula Pfeiffer
- Orchestra:
- Choreographer: Yvette Bozsik
Information about the Recording
- Published by: M5
- Date Published: 2025
- Format: Broadcast
- Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
- Subtitles: nosubs
- This Recording is NOT AVAILABLE from a proper commercial or public source
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
The Budapest Operetta Theatre’s 100th jubilee play − a brand new grand operetta − takes the esteemed audience on a magical journey back in time.
Károly Somossy, the visionary and builder of the Operetta Theatre, was one of the greatest Hungarian impresarios of all time, his life could fill the pages of several adventure novels. He taught not only Budapest but all of Europe how to party. The Somossy Orpheum, opened in 1894, was a place of entertainment frequented by gentlemen from Vienna, Berlin, and even Saint Petersburg. The future King of England, Edward VII, was also a regular guest at the Orpheum, seeking the favours of the original Csárdás Princess, Cecilia Carola.
The grand operetta The Magician of the Orpheum transports us back to this enchanting milieu, serving as a kind of prequel to The Csárdás Princess. It’s a mad world where everyone revels as if there’s no tomorrow. Somossy is the king of the night, and he lives like a king too. His lover, the beautiful prima donna, Cecilia Carola, who is also his business partner, helps him fleece the gentry. Everything runs smoothly until Somossy notices a new talent, the sparkling Bella, and Zdenko Lazarovits, the richest magnate of the Monarchy, marches into the Orpheum with great pomp to propose to Cecilia Carola. At the same time, an unexpected visitor arrives in Somossy’s office: Armina, his wife, who has had enough of her husband’s debauchery. The gentle wife transforms into a fierce dragon, the sharp-witted new prima donna proves to be a tough challenge for both Somossy and Cecilia Carola, and the seemingly easy prey, the jolly wheat magnate Zdenko, turns out to be the toughest opponent, despite his lovable clownishness. Chaos ensues, the romantic entanglements turn into a Gordian knot, everyone falls in love with everyone else – and the sixth romantic hero, the prince, hasn’t even arrived yet. Bets are placed at the Orpheum on who will emerge victorious. Seizing the opportunity, Somossy’s enemies spring into action, planning the magician’s murder, and the dizzying, sentimental comedy turns into a gripping thriller. And the prince still hasn’t arrived… Who will prevail? Somossy or his adversaries? The wife or the lover? Or is the outcome even more convoluted? After numerous unexpected twists, the answer will be revealed. One thing is certain: the Hungarian operetta, revived for the 3rd millennium, is the ultimate winner.