Our history on a timeline
The foundation
May 10, 2011
At László Ágoston’s tiny flat in Budapest a bunch of freshly graduated singers from Franz Liszt Academy of Music officially found Moltopera. (In the picture: Cecília Pletser graphic designer-student shows the first drafts of Moltopera’s visual identity.)
Read morePreparations for the debut
December 11, 2011
In the autumn of 2011 the team starts the preparations for our debut concert while the firts website, handouts, promotional videos are being made. The rehearsals take place in our Alma Mater, in the Music Academy of Budapest. (From the left to the right: Marianna Sipos, Katalin Vamosi, Renata Göncz, Laszlo Agoston, Zoltan Gradsach)
Read moreSold out!
February 8, 2012
Moltopera’s first concert is sold out two weeks in advance – due to the huge interest we need to repeat it a month later. “As Moltopera’s concert on the 15th of February approaches it looks to be a more and more important event in Budapest’s musical life. The young singers debut might be a breath of fresh air among the bad news of the profession.” (zene.hu) (Laszlo Agoston beside an “Every ticket sold out!”-label on the concert’s poster at the venue.)
Read moreThe debuting concert
February 15, 2012
On the 15th February the first concert of Moltopera ends with huge success. Critics greet the new opera company with warm-hearted articles and generous recommendations. The members of the tream surprise Laszlo Agoston, the director with a Moltopera-branded cake on stage during the celebration.
Read moreAn early breakthrough
March 11, 2012
After the repeated concert (in front of a full house again) Moltoper’s career gets a kickstart when receives an invitation among the most renowned Hungarian artists at the International Artist Managers’ Association’s showcase to represent Hungary.
Representing Hungary
April 2, 2012
Already at the third concert: at the International Artist Managers’ Association’s showcase in one of the most illustrious concert venues of Hungary, introduced by the general director of Hungarian National Philharmonic.
Our first business order
May 6, 2012
Moltopera performs at a Swiss pharmaceutical company’s international conference. This is our first order from a company that many follows later. We also keep a good connection to our first client and they call us even to their event is abroad.
Our first children’s programme
May 6, 2012
In cooperation with DaVinci Learning Moltopera’s children programme debuts. Csaba Tori, our conductor, delivers a playful but contentful series of lectures. The programme has always been on repertoire since then.
At Sziget Festival
August 12, 2012
Moltopera received a prime time slot at Sziget Festival, one of the biggest pop-rock festivals in Europe. We are proud that our concerts where full house even when we had to compete with Snoop Dogg or Macklemore & Ryan Lewis!
Read moreIn the TV
September 12, 2012
Our first performance recorded by a major TV company at “The Day of Hungarian Song”.
The magic flute at Palace of Arts
November 3, 2012
Our first full-lenght opera performance at the Palace of Arts. Full house. Contemporary direction – controversial critics.
La Bohéme at the National Theater of Pécs
January 31, 2013
The first performance with Laszlo Agoston’s commentaire. One of our most beloved performances ever. Laszlo’s cheerful and explanatory comments become Moltopera’s signature from this night.
Die Fledermaus
February 22, 2013
Our next performance in a series of ten shows at the National Theater of Pécs.
Cavalleria Rusticana
March 22, 2013
Part of the series at the National Theater of Pécs.
Menotti: Telephone
May 16, 2013
An unusual night about opera – a pasticcio with an extraordinary ending: Gian Carlo Menotti’s” Telephone” as the closing act at the National Theater of Pécs.
Don Giovanni in Weikersheim
July 10, 2013
Our cooperation with Jeunesses Musicales Deutschland that led to Moltopera Germany’s birth later. We had the honour to provide three singers to the performance.
Moltopera at universities
October 7, 2013
Our youth programme launches in five of the most renowned Hungarian universities financed by Budapest Bank. The start of a still running programme with 100+ performances!
The birth of Moltopera Germany
May 10, 2014
With the lead on Nils Matthiesen (in the picture on the left) Moltopera Germany is formed. Our debuting concert took place at the National Parliament of Saxony with or composer, Kayamar’s piece written for the occasion.
School programme in Germany
May 11, 2014
After a year of preparation a series of youth performances in German schools financed by the European Union launches. We also conduct a research on the attitude of youth about opera in both countries.
Brian Eno’s special prize
September 9, 2014
Our composer, Kayamar, receives a special prize from Brian Eno at the Noise Festival. The official celebraton takes place at the House of Commons but due to personal reasons unfortunately we can’t show up.
Debut at the Hungarian State Opera
November 23, 2014
Our first independent performance at the Hungarian State Opera. We have the privilege to premier Haydn’s L’isola disabitata in Hungary. The performance wins the heart of the critics even though one of the protagonists falls out due to illness 36 hous before the performance and Laszlo Agoston has to jump in to save the performance.
New premier at the Hungarian State Opera
April 2, 2015
After the success of our Haydn- opera, we have the honour to stage a new premier: Eintführung aus dem Serail – in children’s version with the incredible puppet art of Kolibri Theater.
Every year at the Sziget Festival
August 12, 2015
Since 2012, our first shows, we have been a regular at Sziget Festival, one of the biggest pop-rock gatherings in Europe. For years we have been performing 6 days in a row in front of a very mixed, very critical but very appreciative audience.
Moltopera in the UK
October 28, 2015
Our first activities in the United Kingdom: our youth programmes on stage in Manchester and at the Durham University.
Choir of Angels
December 15, 2015
The prestigious dance company, Experidance, offered Moltopera a cooperation over almost 100 concerts in a tour. We staged a choreographed performance with special costumes of christmas carols arranged by our composer, Kayamar. We toured Hungary for almost a month.
Celebrating the 100th youth performance
May 12, 2016
In the past years our youth programme have become our most succesful performance. Visiting many schools and institutions (including ex. tha National Gallery) in just a few years we surpass the 100th show.
Two women – contemporary opera premier at the Hungarian State Opera
September 17, 2016
Samu Gryllus conducts his own opera – a piece about an elder opera prompter who falls in love with a waitress. In Patricia Horvath’s direction the 30 minutes long piece becomes a full-night sensation making the audience tour the whole building of the opera house from the cellar to the roof at night.
3rd season at the Hungarian State Opera
March 17, 2017
With three independent series of shows running, Moltopera is very busy at performing in the Hungarian State Opera. Due to Csaba Tori’s serious illness, a new conductor, the magnificent, 26 years old Peter Dobszay debutes with us. A few month later he wins the audience’s award at the Maestro Solti International Conducting Competition.
Eszter Zemlenyi’s international successes
May 13, 2017
Our member, Eszter Zemlenyi receives a 3rd prize in the Pärnu International Opera Music Festival, the most renowned singing competiton of the Baltic region. A few months later she wins also a 2nd prize at the Virginia Zeani Interntional Singing Competition.
Benjamin Beeri’s 2nd prize
May 19, 2017
Benjamin Beeri – the youngest member of Moltopera – wins a 2nd prize in Virtuózok, a live-broadcasted classical music talent show. He names Laszlo Agoston and Moltopera as his mentor and main supporter in national television.
Recording a CD
June 28, 2017
Moltopera records “Two Women”, the opera of Samu Gryllus on CD for the Hungarian State Opera.
Tour’d opera
August 15, 2017
Moltopera performs in Tour’d Opera, at an other unusual venue. The three-day long festival takes place beside lake Tisza, our singers perform L’ elisir d’ amore. Zsuzsanna Ádám a few months later wins 3 major prizes in two-weeks time (!) from Düsseldorf to the main prize of Antonio Bertolini Singing Competition, Milan.
Laszlo Agoston – 100 000+
October 17, 2017
The Facebook fan page of Moltopera’s director, Laszlo Agoston reaches 100 000 followers, he becomes a well-known face in Hungary. Beside arts he advocates for human rights, LGBT rights, gender equality and social issues.
150th youth performance
October 10, 2018
Moltopera celebrates the 150th school performance since 2012. There are councils where we have been visiting schools for 4 years continuously.
Nordic Goodwill Ambassador
December 12, 2018
Moltopera’s director, Laszlo Agoston receives an invitation to the Nordic Bridge Community – the joint effort of the Nordic embassies in Hungary to build a cultural bridge between their countries and Hungary. Laszlo receives the title of “Nordic Goodwill Ambassador” for his work.
Eszter, who has been singing with us since 2014 won
Eszter Balogh wins Handel Singing Competition in London
April 6, 2019
Eszter, who has been singing with us since 2014, wins the 1st prize of Handel Singing Competition in London. Her success is featured in such papers – beside others – as Opera Today or Rhinegold.
Founding Moltopera UK officially
June 17, 2019
The Companies House incorporates our umbrella organization, Perspective Art CIC, and Moltopera’s new branch officially opens in the United Kingdom.
Katalin Csillagh joins Moltopera
October 1, 2019
The multi-award-winning pianist, Katalin Csillagh, joins us in London as music director, répétiteur and accompanist.
100,000 children listening to us
January 12, 2020
Moltopera creates in cooperation with BPS maybe the largest classical youth programme in Europe by expanding over 1000 concerts and 100,000 students reached. Touring teams start to travel around Hungary to open the world of classical music for children aged 10-14.