Curtain closes on Erkel Theater, future uncertain

Last Saturday, the audience bade farewell to the Erkel Theatre, while this weekend it is the turn of Opera House artists and employees. Nobody knows what will happen to the socialist-era building on Köztársaság Square, but one thing is for certain: state funds have dried up to finance it.

Lajos Vass, the new director of the Opera House, has been tasked with solving the problem of what to do with the giant relic, built in 1911 and renovated in the Socialist Realist style in 1952. The building will continue to be used for auditions in September and October, but will be vacated by the end of the year. During this period, Vass will negotiate with the the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Finance, a concept will be sent to Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány.

The ideal solution would be for the building to continue to be used for a variety of purposes operas, musicals and big events, but that would require major private investment. Vass believes it is important to maintain the present acoustics and 2,000 capacity of the building, and would like to reopen in 2010.

From this fall, the second Opera House venue will be in Thalia Theatre. This is a boost to the Thalia Theatre, because the 75-day rental fee paid by the Opera House represents a fixed income covering a quarter of the season, said theater director, László Megyeri.

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