Danube Symphony, Frank Wildhorn And His Friends

Margaret Island Open Air Theatre

The general public can see a magical musical gala on August 7, 2025: Frank Wildhorn, the world-famous American composer nominated for multiple Grammy, Tony and Emmy awards, and his friends will give a grand concert of the iconic musicals of the New York Broadway hitmaker, and this evening, Wildhorn's monumental work, Danube Symphony, will be heard for the first time in Hungary, which tells the story of the river that crosses Europe, the peoples living on its banks, our common culture and history, providing the audience with an unparalleled musical experience.

Frank Wildhorn is best known in Hungary for his musical performances that have attracted increased professional and public interest. At the Budapest Operetta Theatre, under the direction of Atilla Kiss-B. Kossuth Award-winning opera singer, general director, and leading creative director, the revelatory Carmen presented in 2024 and Jekyll and Hyde, which has been in the repertoire since 2022, will not be forgotten by anyone who has only bought a ticket for the audience-favorite productions once, and many years earlier, the musical Rudolf was also seen.

The first half of the evening will feature the Danube Symphony, which was previously performed by the Vienna Philharmonic and most recently at the Ulm International Danube Festival and has been a great success with the public. Wildhorn wrote his grandiose work with a harmonious combination of classical and modern, contemporary musical styles, as a sign of his respect for his beloved river, the Danube. The characteristic Wildhorn soundscape, fueled by deep emotions, enchants the audience and takes them along the Danube's path from its source to the Black Sea. The unadulterated operetta theater feeling and the unparalleled musical experience are guaranteed by the Budapest Operetta Theater's Symphony Orchestra, which consists of more than 80 members and is conducted by the Liszt Ferenc Award-winning conductor and principal music director Gyula Pfeiffer.
In the second part, the stars and talented young people of the Nagymező Street Theatre will take to the stage: Nikolett Füredi, Veronika Nádasi, Franciska Lipics eh SZFE, Zsolt Homonnay, Péter Sándor and György Szomor , as well as the Musical Ensemble and Orchestra of the theatre, which will perform the composer's most popular musical songs, duets and ensembles.

The star guest of the evening is the composer Frank Wildhorn himself, who will play the piano and, between the numbers, will introduce the audience to the defining stages of his career with his infinitely personal thoughts, thus allowing the audience to gain insight into the history of the creation of each musical. The choreographer and director's collaborator of the exceptional and unrepeatable gala concert is Gábor Lénárt, and its director is Zsolt Homonnay, a Mari Jászai Award-winning theater artist and artistic director of the Operetta Theater. A simultaneous interpreter will help to better understand what is said on stage.

Program and cast

Part I

Wildhorn: Danube Symphony

Music Director / Conductor: Gyula Pfeiffer
The Budapest Operetta Theatre Symphony Orchestra will be performing.

Part II

Frank Wildhorn and friends - musical gala

Music Director / Conductor: Gyula Pfeiffer

Guest star / piano: Frank Wildhorn, Nikolett Füredi, Lipics Franciska eh SZFE, Veronika Nádasi, Homonnay Zsolt, Sándor Péter, Szomor György

The Budapest Operetta Theatre Musical Ensemble and Orchestra will be performing.

Choreographer / director's collaborator: Gábor Lénárt

Director: Zsolt Homonnay