Watch Marcell Bakonyi in thrilling performance of Bánk bán

Marcell Bakonyi

You can watch Hungarian barihunk Marcell Bakonyi as the King of Hungary online at OperaVision in Ferenc Erkel's Bánk bán, which is considered the national opera of the country. The tragic story of has not left the repertoire in Hungary since it was first performed in 1861. It’s performed regularly on national holidays, often with school kids in the audience. The opera includes two amazing arias for the baritone leads, Bánk bán and the King of Hungary, as well as the obligatory soprano mad scene from the era. 

The main storyline is based on the assassination of Queen Gertrúd, wife of Andrew II in 1213.

Composer Ferenc Erkel is barely known outside Hungary, where he’s revered as the father of Hungarian music and the composer of the country’s national anthem. The opera is rarely heard outside of Hungary because it's hard to find singers who can sing in Hungarian.

Marcell Bakonyi sings "Se vuol ballare" from Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro:

Marcell Bakonyi has not been featured on our site before, but his aria is a tour de force, which is worth hearing. Marcell studied voice at the Leo-Weiner Conservatory of Music in Budapest and at the Hochschule für Musik in Stuttgart, Germany. From 2007-2008 he was a member of the ensemble at Theater Heidelberg, followed by being an ensemble member at the Landestheater Salzburg, where he sang the roles of Bartolo and Figaro in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, Kaspar in Weber's Der Freischütz, Angelotti in Puccini's Tosca, Dulcamara in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore and Leporello Mozart's Don Giovanni. Since 2010, he has been a member of the Ensemble at the Nürnberg State Theater.

In 2011, he  made his debut as Pietro in Verdi`s Simon Boccanegra at the Budapest State Opera House.