Samu Gryllus, Vince Varga, MuPATh (AT): Host_Opera

Documentary opera kidnapping about the borders and rules of freedom

Concept and musical direction by Sam Gryllus, direction and media design by Vince Varga, interpreters Josefa Beil, Dominik Förtsch, Tara Khozein, Kornél Mikecz, musicians Natália Kubalcová (violin), Štefan Szabó (guitar), Miroslav Tóth (saxophones), Katarín Zima (cello), choir, dramaturgy, text, subtitles by Beata Gerendás (libretto based on the documentary novel "Hírzárlat" / News in distress by Csenge Hatala), English translation by Vera Budai, program by Djindji Ergimen, electronics by Bálint Bolcsó, lighting by Máté Bredán, project management by Andrea Jászai, production by MuPATh, ProProgressione, WUK performing arts

*** The performance is in English with Slovak subtitles ****

Documentary contemporary chamber opera about freedom and dictatorship, based on the real events of the Balassagyarmat hostage crisis in 1973. The aim of the evening is to gain insight into our human and power relations, understand them and process them through this historical event. Host_Opera is a new version of the opera Geiseloper (The Hostage Opera) by MuPATh. During its travels, the production always collaborates with local instrumentalists and a small choir composed of members of the local community.

The Hostage Opera is a work with a social theme created through international collaboration, which uses contemporary theatrical and musical experiences in an original way. He respects and reinterprets the traditions of the genres he deals with. Who pays the price of freedom? How does it feel to be held hostage? In this hostage incident, which is still widely known in Hungary today, the two young sons of the party secretary of the local border gas station took the residents of the girls' dormitory hostage and demanded a safe exit from the country. What happened during those five nights in Balassagyarmat in 1973? The texts used in the production are documents from Csenge Hatalu's book entitled Hírzárlat (News Failure). The book is unique in that many of the original participants in the hostage crisis spoke publicly for the first time on its pages.

Vince Varga has been working as a theater artist in Budapest and throughout Hungary for ten years and has also contributed to productions in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

Composer Samu Gryllus founded a music-performative theater association in 2008 with baritone Rupert Bergmann. MuPATh, which supports new works and collaborations between the artistic fields defined by its name.

See also: the possibility to participate in the Soundpainting Workshop during the previous day (Friday 7/11) and become part of the community choir during this performance.

Support: National Cultural Fund of Hungary, ProProgressione, Federal Ministry of Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport of Austria