Gergely Biri

The wealthy Argan ‘enjoys’ poor health. Even though his daughter is in love with another man, he wants to marry her off to a medical dunce who can secure a lifetime of medical care for his father-in-law. A fake death scene finally teaches Argan where to put his trust. Following the success of his previous works, this is the fourth opera by János Vajda to be staged at the Hungarian State Opera. Based on both Moliere's Le malade imaginaire and Mikhail Bulgakov's play about the French playwright, Vajda's new opera incorporates Moliere's life story, giving bass-baritone András Hábetler the rare opportunity to play the dual roles of Argan and Moliere.

A miserly marquis and a wealthy old count contrive to marry girls in each other’s protection. Everything seems to be going to plan, until a giant goose starts raining money from the sky. After the success of Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Mozart began composing L'oca del Cairo and Lo sposo deluso but gave up on both of them. The two fragmentary comedies were never staged in his lifetime but are brought together in this new pasticcio at Hungarian State Opera conceived by its General Director, Szilveszter Ókovács.