The number of programmes was around 2,000 including guided tours of the Opera House and this altogether marks a two-fold increase over the past three years, Ókovacs added.

He said that programmes at the Opera House-managed Erkel Theatre, which reopened after refurbishment at the end of 2013, also contributed to 2014’s success.

The Budapest Opera’s outstanding event this year was the Richard Strauss Festival in May-June, which paid tribute to the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth.

By putting on stage six of Strauss’s operas “we embarked on a mission that even German theatres that are instrumental in performing Strauss works had not considered on the anniversary,” he said.

Among other highlights Ókovács noted guest performances in the theatres of major Hungarian cities outside Budapest, as well as performances by the Hungarian National Ballet, which attracted 110,000 visitors.

Concerning finances, Ókovács said that beside own revenues the Budapest Opera received this year 7.6 billion forints (EUR 24m) and the Erkel Theatre 1.1 billion forints in state support.

Source www.hungarymatters.hu

Follow that link to sign-up for MTI’s twice-daily newsletter.