17-19 Cockspur St, London SW1Y 5BL
Bán (Bán is ban in English, similar to a viceroy, a duke or palatine) Bánk returns home from his cross-country tour to find that the foreign queen is doing everything she can to oppress the Hungarians and is holding debauched parties. In addition to the injustice to his country, Bánk is personally hurt when Queen Gertrudis' brother Otto seduces his wife. Bánk is torn between his love and his duty as a statesman, a burden under which he finally collapses, turning himself into the very man he fought against.
The students of the 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 in Hungary present Erkel's opera, based on the play by József Katona, explores issues that are in many ways timeless and have as much place on stage in the 21st century as they did when it was first performed in 1861. The societal and private conflicts in life, and the duality of the worlds of Meranians and Hungarians, are present in a constant pulsation in the space in which the country is ultimately torn apart.
"Great, great, what is at stake: the country and Melinda" - this inner struggle is the downfall of Bánk, who cannot decide whether to deal with the fate of his country or his love. In the end, he cannot fulfil the duties entrusted to him by the King and loses his wife forever. Is it worth sacrificing everything on the altar of duty for those who give us our true happiness? In the trinity of God-Home-Family, how can we move in such a way that we can meet all three? Finally, we must realize that whatever happens in the big world, our primary responsibility as men is to take care of our own world, that is, our family.
Cast:
Otto, Endre II: Nikita Braga
Bánk Bán: Tibor Nemes
Petur, Tiborc, Biberach: Zoltán Richárd Vajda
Gertrud: Nóra Kertész / Fruzsina Bayer
Melinda: Lili Árki
Music director: Erdős Bogi
Dramaturge: Ágota Szalánczi
Puppet designer: Márk Horváth
Set design: Szabolcs Fejes
Costume design: Laura Wasilewski
Assistant director: Horváth Luca Sára
Director: Szabolcs Fejes
In Hungarian with English surtitles.
The script was adapted by Ágota Szalánczi and Szabolcs Fejes, based on texts by József Katona, Ferenc Erkel, Béni Erkel-Egressy, Kálmán Nádasdy and Attila József
The event is free but registration is necessary.