The Miraculous Mandarin Music: Béla Bartók Director-choreographer: Tamás Juronics Setting, costumes: Zsuzsa Molnár Lighting: Ferenc Stadler Girl: Kitti Palman / Flóra Zsadon Mandarin: János Haller Tramps: Gergely Czár, Vencel Csetényi, Miklós Gergely Horváth, Zoltán Tarnavölgyi A Soldier’s Tale Music: Igor Stravinsky Lyrics: Charles Ferdinand Ramuz Translation: András Almási-Tóth Setting, costumes: Zsuzsa Molnár Lighting: Ferenc Stadler Co-director: András Almási-Tóth Narrat...or: Illés Horváth Soldier: Zoltán Megyeri Devil: József Székhelyi Soldier: Gergely Czár Devil: Gábor Finta King’s daughter: Krisztina Szarvas Devil disguised as an old man: Vencel Csetényi Devil disguised as an old woman: János Haller In further roles: Laura Fehér, Kitti Hajszán, Miklós Gergő Horváth, Kitti Palman, Zoltán Tarnavölgyi, Andrea Tóth, Flóra Zsadon Featuring: Szeged Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Sándor Gyüdi Director-choreographer: Tamás Juronics The Miraculous Mandarin Since its first performance, Bartók’s musical work has inspired most creative artists (including several European artists); as if it was a “required reading”, directors and choreographers have felt an urge to meet the challenge of the otherwise alluring task and make their version of it. I have been considering getting involved with the work for years myself, trying to find an answer to what the story means to me. What I have found is that, to me, it is not the relationship between the peculiar gentleman from the East, the streetwalker and the tramps that is important. What I have explored is the inner happening of a stormy love and the generation of an elemental desire that is able to create power in a human being strong enough to tear the outside world apart, if needed, going beyond the border of reality. Thus, to be a Mandarin is a state of being. It can happen to anyone who reaches the stage of desire and love beyond which the rules of the outside world cease to exist and whose life follows only the rules of an inner existence driven by sexual forces. In this interpretation, the Tramps embody the outside world, the Girl is the object of desire, while the Mandarin is the embodiment of DESIRE.” (Tamás Juronics) A Soldier’s Tale (a joint production of Szeged Contemporary Ballet, Szeged National Theatre and the National Dance Theatre) In the life of a person, the moment of decision comes whether to stay faithful to yourself or to sell your soul. Sell your soul to whom? To the Devil? But are you aware of the moment when this happens? Well, unfortunately, you are usually not, really. You only become aware of it when you have lost your old self already. And this is when a new question arises: is there a way back? Can you become again what you once were? And how? It is very easy to lose yourself: it can happen in just a second. But to get it back? Through love, maybe? Maybe… A person selling his soul is an evergreen topic in the culture of every nation. The man in the street fighting with the devil appears on the stages of all times. And at any time, temptation is present. Mariechen von Nimwegen, the innocent girl of the Middle Ages embarks on her road and she, indeed, is tempted by Satan: the once virgin becomes a bad woman. The once folk tale hero – philosopher Faust sells his soul to Satan, for earthly pleasures. And there is Vitéz László, the Hungarian Pulcinella, hero of fair puppet theatres, who beats up the Devil once a day. For centuries, virgins, philosophers and folk tale heroes have flirted and fought with the Devil. And, no, the Devil is not asleep today, either … A piece “for reading, theatre and dance” – Igor Stravinsky (1882−1971) put on the scores of his composition A Soldier’s Story (1918). It was the age of horrors of World War I when this thriller tale was born, about a Soldier selling away his soul. The action is presented on stage in a complex way: while the narrator conducts the audience along the psychological path of the main protagonist, the orchestra, the dancers and the actors present the various stages of damnation, sometimes alternately, other times playing together. Since the Devil always finds a new way of temptation … Theatre with music, a ballet, a fairy tale, an exciting thriller and playful entertainment: these are the versatile characteristics of Stravinsky’s special piece for the theatre.
Parking information
We wish to inform you that in the event that Müpa Budapest's underground garage and outdoor car park are operating at full capacity, it is advisable to plan for increased waiting times when you arrive. In order to avoid this, we recommend that you depart for our events in time, so that you you can find the ideal parking spot quickly and smoothly and arrive for our performance in comfort. The Müpa Budapest underground garage gates will be operated by an automatic number plate recognition system. Parking is free of charge for visitors with tickets to any of our paid performances on that given day. The detailed parking policy of Müpa Budapest is available here.
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