On Monday, May 18, at 7:00 pm, the Vörösmarty Theater of Székesfehérvár will present a guest performance of the musical Benyovszky, the Lover of Freedom in the main hall of the Hungarian Theatre of Cluj. The Cluj performance takes place on the 285th anniversary of Móric Benyovszky’s birth and the 240th anniversary of his death.

The musical was created on the initiative of György G. Németh, president of the Benyovszky Society, who has been a dedicated researcher of the explorer’s life throughout his career. As the musical’s producer, he stated: “The musical pays tribute to the Hungarian nobleman who was both adventurous and a lifelong champion of the ideal of freedom, to the hero who fought in the Polish independence wars and was taken prisoner by the Russians, the captain who escaped from a prison camp in Kamchatka with a brilliant plan and, by acquiring a ship named Péter-Pál, helped an entire crew escape. We can also get to know Benyovszky, who personally knew Louis XVI, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin, but above all the explorer who traveled the world from Taiwan to Madagascar, and the governor who pacified the tribes, whom the people of Madagascar still remember to this day.”

Based on the books of Mór Jókai, the Hungarian performances of this musical—the result of decades of research and the collection of international documents—will offer audiences a grand musical production. The original libretto was written by Zsolt Pozsgai. The Hungarian musical is also scheduled to embark on an international tour: in addition to Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and France, it will be performed among Hungarian diasporas across international borders.

Tibor Magnus Nagy, winner of the Best Continental European Composer award, emphasized that the musical contains ninety minutes of music and forty-three musical pieces. "I was inspired by Mór Jókai’s novel, and everything I learned about Benyovszky found expression through the language of music. This musical has become the crowning achievement of my 50-year musical career. The world traveler’s visits to four continents provided me with a wonderful opportunity, because as a result, I composed world music in which Hungarian melodies are accompanied by musical motifs from other peoples.”

A spectacular artistic vision unfolds before audiences, depicting a world traveler whose memory has faded over the centuries, yet who was surrounded by great acclaim and respect in his own time. Based on the captivating, melody-rich music of composer Tibor Magnus Nagy, Iván Bradányi’s classic lyrics are performed by outstanding artists under the direction of János Szikora. The lead role is played by Sándor György-Rózsa, whose performance demonstrate his dedication and affection for Benyovszky, the character he portrays and reveres; the female lead roles are played by Diána Magdolna Kiss, Noémi Závodszky, and Eszter Sára Váradi. Other outstanding performances include: Péter Trokán, Ferenc Kozári, Tamás Rovó, József Kádas, and the cast. Costume designer: Yvette Kovács; set designer: Éva Szendrényi; choreographer: Csanád Kovács-Gergely; musical director: Mari Fekete; studio work: Gábor Gulyás-Szabó. The Benyovszky Society contributed to the creation of the musical.

(Source: Benyovszky Society)

The Petőfi Cultural Program is realized with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation and coordinated by the National Institute for Culture.

Tickets for the musical Benyovszky, Lover of Freedom can be purchased at the theatre's box office (weekdays between 10 am and 2 pm) and online at huntheater.biletmaster.ro.