On the 100th anniversary of the premiere of Bartók's first dramatic work, composed to a libretto by Béla Balázs, a brand-new choreography of The Wooden Prince will be returning to the stage of the Opera on 12 May 2017, following in the tradition of Ottó Zöbisch (1917), János Cieplinsky (1935) and Gyula Harangozó (1939) as well as the latter's 1958 version, already featuring more modern elements, and László Seregi's 1970 version, each new interpretation attempts to take a step in the direction of modernity, to resolve or even emphasise the contradiction straining between the childlike tale and the sophisticated music. This is the task undertaken by internationally recognised dancer and choreographer Pál Frenák, who at the helm of his own ensemble occupies a position on the world's cutting edge. The Wooden Prince will be his first project for the Hungarian National Ballet.

Featuring the Hungarian National Ballet and the Compagnie Pál Frenák

General cast:

Conductor: János Kovács
Princess: Fanni Esterházy / Viktória Rohonczi / Rita Tokai / Erika Vasas
Prince: Zoltán Feicht / Péter Holoda / Milán Maurer / Kristóf Morvai / Dmitry Timofeev
Wooden puppet: Fanni Esterházy / Gábor Halász / Péter Holoda / Patrik Keresztes / Milán Maurer / Erika Vasas / Ricardo Vila M.
Fairy: Milán Maurer / Pál Frenák / Péter Holoda
Forest/Stream: Zoltán Feicht / Pál Frenák / Gábor Halász / Péter Holoda / Patrik Keresztes / Milán Maurer / Kristóf Morvai / Dmitry Timofeev / Ricardo Vila M.

Credits:

Choreographer: Pál Frenák
Composer: Béla Bartók
Librettist: Béla Balázs
Set designer: paradigma:ariadné
Costume designer: Pál Frenák / Boglárka Zalai-Ruzsics
Dramaturg: Márta Péter
Ballet masters: Zoltán Feicht / Edit Rujsz

Premiere: May 12, 2017