Bánk bán

opera by Erkel

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July 18, 2026

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The opera Bánk bán was composed by Ferenc Erkel and first staged in 1861. The libretto, by Béni Egressy, is based on the historical tragedy Bánk bán (1815) by József Katona. The play and opera center on Bánk, a powerful Hungarian noble and viceroy during the reign of King Andrew II in the 13th century. The drama explores Bánk's internal conflict between loyalty to the king and the outrage of his compatriots against the German queen Gertrude and her entourage. The plot involves the queen's brother attempting to seduce Bánk's wife, leading to tragic consequences and Bánk's quest for justice. The opera is considered a significant work in Hungarian national opera.123

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Ferenc Erkel
…staged his most famous work, Bánk bán (based on a drama by József Katona, with a libretto by Egressy), which at that point probably had been ready for production for more than 10 years. However, Sarolta, his first comic opera, performed in 1862, proved to be another failure. Erkel’s 1867…
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…staged his most famous work, Bánk bán (based on a drama by József Katona, with a libretto by Egressy), which at that point probably had been ready for production for more than 10 years. However, Sarolta, his first comic opera, performed in 1862, proved to be another failure. Erkel’s 1867…
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