The renovated Csokonai Theatre in Debrecen welcomes opera lovers again

Not only lovers of traditional theatre, but also opera lovers can now come to the Csokonai in Debrecen, which is also home to this genre. The city is no stranger to cultivating the love and knowledge of the opera genre: the Csokonai Theatre launched a series of discussions on opera in Debrecen, which celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2022, entitled “Opera Living with Us”, hosted by Andrea Ujvárosi – the Opera Ambassador, private singer of the Csokonai Theatre and associate professor at the Faculty of Music of the University of Debrecen. She said: with her guests, the leading opera singers still living among us, iconic figures of the genre and members of the new generation, she would like to show the place and status of opera in Debrecen in the Hungarian opera life. The events were attended by iconic figures from the world of opera and art.

The theatre is a very important building in the city, symbolising its cultural mission, its strength and its impact on the region. The 158-year-old historic building will have a new capacity of over 660 seats, including standing room, which is unprecedented.

The history of the Debrecen Opera Company dates back more than seventy years, but the presence of the opera genre in Debrecen goes back much further, to 1802, when the first opera performance was given under the title Contractus, or the Cursed Bridegrooms. In the cultivation of the genre, Debrecen excels and has excelled among other rural towns, and in its seven decades of work the company has produced around two hundred independent productions, which have been performed around three thousand times for audiences. The Debrecen theatre continued to cultivate the tradition in the 2000’s, where the greatest emphasis was placed on the cultivation of the genre at the national level. The renovation of the Csokonai Theatre in the last few years has at least partially boycotted this form of performance, as it had to be moved to other, less suitable venues, but after the major renovation, hundreds of visitors can once again experience this form of entertainment in all its glory.

Both as a local and as a visitor, the programme of the Csokonai Theatre is worth watching: in addition to the specific genre of opera, the audience will be able to see a wide variety of performances.
 

When you are in Debrecen, it is worth checking out the theatre and other cultural events. The Déri Museum is a great place to do this, with both permanent and temporary exhibitions, including Mihály Munkácsy’s monumental Christ, and the internationally renowned Japan collection, which is well worth a tour. Visitors to the city should also take a look at the University of Debrecen campus, which is not only the home of endless knowledge, but also an impressive sight.

If you are on a trip, you can’t miss out on the culinary experience – whether you are in the mood for a pastry, ice cream or something more substantial like a burger, you won’t go wrong with Black Sheep Roastery & Coffee. IKON in Debrecen is also a great choice – the restaurant received a Michelin recommendation in 2022. It is worth booking a table in advance.