Elisabeth in Hungary

[Valancy]

I've been meaning to post about this for ages, but kept forgetting. Anyway, there's a new production of Elisabeth that's opened in Budapest recently. There were a handful of performances mid-July, and the performances will continue in late October. I don't know how it'll be after October, because the Budapesti Operett Színház website only has performances up to October right now; but apparently Máté Kamarás (second Death) has said he'll be playing Death in autumn and winter, so probably there'll be a reasonable number of performances.

The cast is given on the theatre website as follows (the most important roles only, there are more on the website):

Elisabeth: Janza Kata
Füredi Nikolett
Vágó Bernadett

Death: Szabó P. Szilveszter
Kamarás Máté

Luigi Lucheni: Földes Tamás
Száraz Tamás

Franz Joseph: Bereczki Zoltán
Bálint Ádám

Sophie: Molnár Piroska
Nádasi Veronika

Rudolf: Dolhai Attila
Szabó Dávid

Max and Count Károlyi István: Marik Péter
Pálfalvy Attila

Ludovika, Frau Wolf: Felföldi Anikó
Náray Erika


In July Kata Janza wasn't in the cast at all, it was only Nikolett and Bernadett as Elisabeth; I presume Kata is still recovering from having recently had a baby, and will return as Elisabeth later on. It seems that in July they had a clear first/second cast divide, with always either one or the other cast performing. The first cast being the names given first excluding Kata (Nikolett, Szilveszter etc.) and the second cast being the names given second (Bernadett, Máté etc.).

There are lots of pictures on the theatre website. First cast here: www.operettszinhaz.hu/index.nof?o=0&k2=172&nyelvid=2&k1=21 and second cast here: www.operettszinhaz.hu/index.nof?o=0&k2=173&nyelvid=2&k1=21

I'm currently a bit confused as I understood from various things I'd heard that Wenn ich tanzen will would finally be included in the production, but now from some comments I've seen on YouTube since it opened it seems that it isn't. And there are no pictures from that scene. Maybe there's some whatever technical reason why they couldn't include it yet and will include it when they continue the performances in October... I hope so, it makes no sense not to include it.

In any case, I'm really hoping I'll get to see this at some point!

[Fantasma da Opera]

Thanks Valancy.
I think I would prefer the second cast with the blonde Death...I like Szabó P. Szilveszter a lot, but...just for a change. And I like much more the looks on Lucheni and Sophie. I just think they abuse a bit in Deaths make up. And I do hope they do include Kell egy Tánc.

[Valancy]

I thought you didn't like Máté, Fantasma? *g*

Anyhow, I'm interested in both casts... The first cast has some famous names who I know to be good in the roles, and Nikolett Füredi as Elisabeth seems promising though she's a new face; the second cast is interesting, not only for Máté, but also because there are lots of new faces who haven't done these roles before and it's interesting to discover new people, not only always the same ones. I also like the second cast Sophie in other things so it'd be interesting to see how she does in that role. (Besides, the second cast Lucheni is hot. </shallow> As much as I like Tamás Földes, it would be nice to see a different Hungarian Lucheni on occasion, too.) Bernadett Vágó as Elisabeth bothers me a bit, though, she looks a bit too cute and girlish for the role, not like I'm used to seeing Elisabeth, and I only know her as Mary Vetsera... She could turn out to be good, though.

I love lots of glitter and make-up on my Deaths. But that might just be me. Maybe it could have been subtler than it seems to be this time around, but on the other hand, Szilveszter still looks divinely gorgeous in it.

[Fantasma da Opera]

Valancy, if that blonde guy on the photos is Maté (Wich I almost bet it isn't ) then he looks better in the Hungarian production. I still don't like is "Rocky-Death" very much, I rather prefer the dangerous softness of Uwe and Jesper.
I don't like the glitterness lol tough I like those silver things they put on Szilveszters hair.

[Valancy]

Sorry, I modified my post as you were typing. Anyway, the blond guy most certainly is Máté. I gave you the cast list in the first post, and you can verify it on the theatre website if you wish (the Hungarians write his name Kamarás Máté, though). It's just that they've given him a very different look in this one. I really think the Vienna look suited him better (the hair, anyway... I'm not so big on the Vienna costumes), here they've tried to make him look like Szilveszter too much, but on the other hand it implies a different style for his Death which might be interesting. I heard he already played Death differently on the Japan tour compared to the Vienna DVD, and the Hungarian production would probably be different again, since it's a different director. There are some clips available of him as the Hungarian Death in 1999, and I like him better in that, even though I also like his Vienna Death very much. So I'd really like to see how he does it this time around - with good luck, he might keep those aspects of his Death that I like and tone down those I never was so fond of.

- Valancy, who needs to stop editing her posts a gazillion times

[Fantasma da Opera]

Maté to me was a terrible choice to Death in the Vienna DVD, but good if you remember that Maya is Elisabeth. They are a good pair (and horrible one) but they work well together.
I do agree with you on the Vienna costume for Death. Uwe in 92 looked ridiculous with that skirt, Maté doesn't look better in 2005 with that "maestro-like" costume. The hungarian white cloak works well, tough I prefer the black one from Essen (they could have puted the white cloak on the beggining and the end, instead of that outfit I can barely discribe.)

[Sinina]

fantasmadaopera said:

Maté to me was a terrible choice to Death in the Vienna DVD, but good if you remember that Maya is Elisabeth. They are a good pair (and horrible one) but they work well together.

Though this definitely is a matter of taste, I simply must disagree. I saw Maya and Máté live in Elisabeth in Vienna and it was one of the best theatre experiences I've ever had. The acting skills of those two are totally adorable and their stage presence is something one can't see on a DVD. I've seen a lot of good actors and actresses in my life and I can honestly say that only few people have impressed me more than Maya and Máté. In addition, there was Serkan Kaya as Lucheni who is absolutely amazing in that role.

Btw, I simply can't understand the discussion about the cast on the Vienna DVD. They made a DVD of one certain production. How on earth they could have said to someone: "Yes, you are in the first cast but you won't be on DVD. Sorry for that, just go home now!"?

[Fantasma da Opera]

Well since they just planed to make one DVD, they could have picked the best cast possible. And Lukas didn't appear on the DVD 'cause he abandoned the role sometime before...and as far as I know he was the true owner of the role of Rudolf on the Revival Cast.
No discussion on Serkan Kaya, he is definitly the best Lucheni they casted.
Maté its cool as Herbert, but he simply its not Death. And Maya...well I think I've maid quite clear I can't stand her! lol (Thank God she declined the role of Mrs. Danvers)
They can act well, wich they do, I just don't like them on the roles, there are far much better Deaths and Sissis.

[Sinina]

fantasmadaopera said:

Well since they just planed to make one DVD, they could have picked the best cast possible.

Maybe they could have done that but they didn't. Instead they decided to use the first cast they had at the moment the show was recorded, which was fair to everyone in my opinion. Lukas had left the role of Rudolf for almost a year earlier to play Romeo, so he wasn't in the first cast anymore.

[Fantasma da Opera]

Yeah, they didn't, so they have to acept the critics on the cast they picked. As simple as that.

[Klarinette]

valancy said:

I'm currently a bit confused as I understood from various things I'd heard that Wenn ich tanzen will would finally be included in the production, but now from some comments I've seen on YouTube since it opened it seems that it isn't. And there are no pictures from that scene. Maybe there's some whatever technical reason why they couldn't include it yet and will include it when they continue the performances in October... I hope so, it makes no sense not to include it.

I'm confused too! On Máté's website, they put a video up of him performing "Wenn ich tanzen will" in the Hungarian production, in full costume! Upon watching it again, it must've been a dress rehearsal. You could watch it here, but you have to be a member of the site.

It makes me sad because that is one of my FAVORITE songs of the show!

[Lora]

sinina said:

Though this definitely is a matter of taste, I simply must disagree. I saw Maya and Máté live in Elisabeth in Vienna and it was one of the best theatre experiences I've ever had. The acting skills of those two are totally adorable and their stage presence is something one can't see on a DVD.

I agree with Sinina. I saw Maya and Máté live and they were amazing. Actually I happened to see the show the night they were filming the show, and I can tell you that what is on the DVD is pretty lame compared to what was going on the stage that night.

And back to topic, both casts sound fantastic. I really hope to get to see it in Budapest in December.

[Sinina]

fantasmadaopera said:

Yeah, they didn't, so they have to acept the critics on the cast they picked.

Or maybe fans should accept the decision VBW made. I'm not trying to say the cast couldn't have been better. My point is that whatever cast you choose for such a purpose, a huge amount of fans will still complain. There's no way to find the absolutely best cast because it's always a matter of taste what is considered as the best. That's why I think VBW made a very logical and reasonable choice when they decided to use the cast they already had. Besides, they hardly could have afforded castings, rehearsals, salaries and other things needed for a new cast. But since this is off-topic, I'm not going to argue about it anymore.

I really wish I could see the new Hungarian production next winter (and TdV as well). I'm quite sure Valancy and Cia can't resist a little trip to Budapest if we happen to have time and get cheap flights.

[Cia]

sinina said:

I really wish I could see the new Hungarian production next winter (and TdV as well). I'm quite sure Valancy and Cia can't resist a little trip to Budapest if we happen to have time and get cheap flights.

We definitely can't. Time is not a problem, who cares about university and studying, anyway? ;D And I guess the flights won't be a big problem, either. I just hope the Hungarians would announce the dates and start to sell tickets to the musicals...

I'm not a fan of Death wearing white tights, but otherwise the production looks very nice. A bit too Hungarian for my taste, perhaps, but who wouldn't need some shine and sparks in life every now and then?

What is Rudolf holding in his hand in some photos? An apple? A rubber ball?

[Fantasma da Opera]

cia said:

who cares about university and studying, anyway?

How I wish I could say that! lol

What is Rudolf holding in his hand in some photos? An apple? A rubber ball?

Don't you understand? He is reciting Shakespeares Hamlet! I really don't know.