Erkel: Bánk Bán

Day 202

Erkel: Bánk Bán

Soloists

Hungarian National Chorus

Orchestra for Hungarian Millennium

Tamás Pál

Bánk Bán is one of the foundations of Hungarian Opera. Its composer, Ferenc Erkel (1810-1893) was a prominent figure in Hungarian music in the mid 19th century and among other achievements composed what is now the Hungarian national anthem. This opera is based on historical events in the 13th century which led to the murder of the queen. 

There are some clearly Hungarian elements to the score, particularly the use of the Cimbalon and some of the dance music is from the same roots as the Hungarian Rhapsodies of Liszt but there is also a distinctly Viennese tinge to some of the music - a reminder that at this time Austria and Hungary were both parts of the same empire. But in many ways it is the mainstream elements of the score which are most impressive. Meyerbeer and French grand opera is clearly a major influence - I am sure that Erkel’s use of a viola d’amore obligato in the big scena for the soprano in Act 2 was inspired by the solo in the tenor aria in Les Huguenots. There is some fine music in this score - particularly the very menacing opening music and the big duet at the end of Act two which ends with the murder scene - that really did cause a shiver down the back of the spine. Some of the score tended a little towards generalised 19th century blood and thunder operatic cliches, but on the whole is was an impressive piece which has prompted me to explore more of Erkel’s output. 

There were many differences between the published score and the text on this recording, which was prepared as a soundtrack for a film of the opera. The opera has a complex textual history and it seems that there have been quite severe editorial intervention by many hands since the opera was first performed. This didn’t however get in the way of being able to follow most of the score - but there were cuts, and some passages were reordered or adapted. But the overall experience must have reflected the composer’s broad expectations if not the precise detail of what he originally wrote.