Arts and entertainment - The Rough Guide to Budapest - page 278

Budapest Operetta Theatre (Budapesti Operettszínház) VI, Nagymező utca 17 1 312
4866, operett.hu . The magnificently refurbished home of Hungarian operetta, where you
can enjoy works by Lehár and Kálmán, as well as modern musicals. Box office Mon-Fri
10am-7pm, Sat & Sun 1-7pm.
Erkel Theatre (Erkel Szinház) VIII, János Pál papa tér 30 1 332 6150, opera.hu .
Large concert hall fresh from a major restoration, with magnificent Bauhaus-style interior
that presents opera and ballet on its vast stage. Box office Tues-Sat 11am-5pm, Sun 4pm, or
until start of performance.
Music Academy (Zeneakadémia) VI, Liszt Ferenc tér 8 1 342 0179, zeneakade-
mia.hu . The Liszt Music Academy - founded by Ferenc Liszt in 1875 - has just undergone
a total refurbishment, restoring the original look of the interior and vastly improving the
acoustics, air-conditioning and seats (which no longer creak). The magnificent gold-covered
Nagyterem (Great Hall) and the smaller Sir Georg Solti Chamber Hall have regular concerts
of a very high standard. Daily 11am-6.30pm or until start of concert.
ÓbudaMusicSociety(ÓbudaiTársaskör) III, Kiskorona utca 7 1 250 0288, obudait-
arsaskor.hu . Small concert hall on the edge of the housing estates south of the Árpád híd in
Óbuda. The quality of performance is impressive, and big local ensembles such as the Liszt
Chamber Orchestra, Budapest Strings and Auer String Quartet are based here. Also stages
some jazz concerts. Daily 9am-7pm.
Old Music Academy (Régi Zeneakadémia) VI, Vörösmarty utca 35 1 322 9804 liszt-
museum.hu . Performances by young musicians every Saturday morning, in the concert hall
of the Liszt Memorial Museum. Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm.
Opera House (Magyar Állami Operaház) VI, Andrássy út 22 1 332 7914, opera.hu .
Home to both the Hungarian State Opera and Hungarian National Ballet companies, it is one
of the grandest venues in town, with its gilded frescoes and three-tonne chandeliers. The pro-
ductions don't always live up to the setting, though the singers and orchestra can be scintil-
lating. With tickets at 600-15,000Ft for most shows, and up to 20,000Ft for the best ones,
you're almost guaranteed a good-value night out. The box office is inside the main doors or,
if they are closed, round on the left-hand side of the building in Dalszinház utca. Mon-Sat
11am-5pm, Sun 4-7pm.
Thália Theatre (Thália Színház) VI, Nagymező 22 1 331 0500, thalia.hu . On Bud-
apest's “Broadway”, the Thália hosts operas and musicals, as well as theatre and dance. Box
office Mon-Thurs 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-5pm.
Vigadó V, Vigadó tér 1 vigado.hu . Another fabulously decorated hall, dating from 1865,
this is the oldest of the major concert venues, attracting names such as Liszt, Brahms and De-
bussy. It is open again after a long and costly restoration, and no expense will be spared to
make sure big names perform here. Daily 10am-7.30pm.