Budapest Opera House

We LOVED our tour of the Budapest Opera House!!! I hope it all works out for you!

James, Please disregard rude comments from interlopers like George. His inappropriate remarks offered no useful information for our trip while your above and beyond effort to supply valuable info will save my wife an unnecessary arduous climb. Thank you so much for you effort. Dan and Jane

We went to the Opera. It was great fun, and very reasonable. We were fortunate to be offered at 4:45 PM the Manager's Box, directly in front of the stage. It was Othello. As others have suggested, we believe that dressing for the opera is in good taste. A fun evening.

I guess we should leave the answer: Yes, there is an elevator. Ask the usher for directions. Paul, did you go to the bar and the balcony at intermission?

Absolutely. We were 5 in our party, the box held 8. The others in the box included a charming young man from the US on a European trip before med school, and two of the most clueless opera attendees I have even sat with. The opera began. The opening of MacBeth is not to be missed - very theatrical (no spoilers). The first scene began. The subtitles were in Hungarian, the opera is Italian, so you had to figger it out. Our box mates begin whispering, which I finally hissed them into silence. Then they started texting !! Wow, how annoying!! A very fun evening. We went to the bar with the med student at the intermission. Very elegant. All of the experience, even the 5 minutes of annoyance, was wonderful. And these people did improve their watching skills, and the rest went well. The whole thing cost USD 75 or so for our 5 family members, best seats in the house.

Yes, it was MacBeth (I stated Othello above, but that was wrong). The house is really a great palace of Hungarian culture. Plus, I later learned that the house (and church) that my grandmother lived in were no more than 6-7 blocks away. Up to the Oktagon, right 5 blocks on the main street, than one small street over.

I buy the Cliff notes before we leave for Budapest. Actually there is a series of small summary books that I buy. Cant remember the name right now. In the event anyone else is reading this and to continue to try and be helpful: You chose well. Always get a box as it helps guarantee that you will meet interesting people; usually Hungarians. Sports Coat minimum, tie much better, suit best. When you go back make dinner reservation at Callas Café next door. Just tell them you are coming after the Opera. The other great venue is the Operett theater. These are essentially musicals, yes in Hungarian, but many with English subtitles. The quality is outstanding. I have seen half a dozen and each was magnificent. Here again get a box. The box seat holders are escorted at intermission to a private parlor where Champagne and Hors d'Oeuvres are served. They seat two boxes at a common table so you get to meet the other people. We have had great conversations with Hungarians at these shows.

And Paul, tell me, the area around the Opera House, Andrassy ut up to the Oktogon and the Erzsébet körút (where you turned right) is a great neighborhood or what. This is the area we stay when ever we are in town (will be back there on Friday). I don't suppose that Church was sort of square, and yellow? like this one http://goo.gl/maps/wf8Fm?

No, that is far grander and more impressive than the church of my grandma's family. They met in a "house-church" which was part of the apartment house that they lived in. I was able to get in and take some pictures of the church. The church was a "German baptist" church, in which a moderately well-known person, Herman Meier, was the preacher. It is at the corner of Harfsa and Wessalenyi Utsas. From the outside, the location looks just like an apartment house. Inside, there is a courtyard, a number of apartments, and the church.

See if you can find the address.
I would be interested.

Something I should mentioned is that along with the Opera House you look at what is playing at the Operett. Theater which is just a few blocks up the street and has wonderful Broadway style musicals, many with English subtitles. We have seen a half dozen and have tickets for a show this coming Thursday.

After either venue you might look at a late dinner reservation at Callas Cafe. It is right next door to the Opera and very, very nice.