Few operas in the Hungarian repertoire occupy as cherished a place as Ferenc Erkel’s Bánk Bán. A masterpiece of the composer’s mature period, the opera has undergone several revisions since its premiere, yet its central message has remained unchanged: the tragic dilemma of a statesman who is ultimately compelled to sacrifice his personal happiness for the greater good.
Erkel turned to the subject after winning the competition to compose the music for Hungary’s national anthem, the Hymn (Himnusz). Although the complete opera was not premiered until 1861, the version most frequently performed today is the adaptation prepared by Kálmán Nádasdy in the late 1930s.
Bánk’s celebrated aria, “Hazám, hazám…” (“My Homeland, My Homeland…”), has become a musical emblem of Hungary and a signature piece for generations of great Hungarian singers. The opera itself has attained the status of a national symbol. Yet, just as József Katona’s original drama would scarcely have existed without the influence of Shakespeare and Schiller, Erkel’s musical language likewise reflects the inspiration of Verdi and Mussorgsky.
The libretto by Béni Egressy is presented in the revised version by Kálmán Nádasdy, performed with the permission of the Hartai Music Agency.
Ferenc Erkel: Bánk bán
