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Istvn, a kirly
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Wikipedia article
'Istvn, a kirly' ("Stephen, the King") is a Hungarian rock opera with music by Levente Szrnyi, lyrics by Jnos Brdy and book by Brdy and Mikls Boldizsr, based on the latter's play, 'Ezredfordul'.
The musical is based on the life of Saint Stephen of Hungary. The scenery was created by Johannes Lorenz Klotz.
The opera was first staged in 1983 on an open-air stage in Budapest. This first performance was also made into a 1984 film, directed by Gbor Koltay, and its music released on an album. The musical became a smash hit and is still very popular in Hungary and among Hungarian minorities in neighboring countries.
Historical background
The opera is based on actual historical events, yet treats them quite freely. In the late 10th century, Gza, ruling prince ('fejedelem') of the pagan Magyar (Hungarian) people recognized that his people would not have a future if they did not found a Christian state. He invited Catholic missionaries to his lands and let his son Vajk be baptized Istvn (Stephen) and brought up as a Catholic.
Gza planned to have Istvn take over the country after his death, as was custom in Western hereditary monarchies. According to ancient Hungarian custom, however, the oldest male member of the family - in this case, a relative named Koppny - would have been the successor.
After Gza's death, Koppny started an uprising against Istvn, but lost and was killed in battle. In order to deter the pagans from further uprising, his body was quartered and the pieces exposed upon the walls of the main castles of the country.
In the year 1000 or 1001, Istvn received a crown from the Pope. He was crowned the first king of Hungary.
Synopsis
Dramatis personae
'The piece is set in Hungary, around the year 1000.'
Act I, 'Az rksg' (the heritage)
A singer sings about good leadership for the country and asks "Whom would you choose?" ('Te kit vlasztanl?')The ruling prince of Hungary, Gza, has invited Christian missionaries into the country ('Veni lumen cordium/Tltsd el szvnk, fnyessg'). In order to strengthen ties with the West, his son Istvn is marrying the Bavarian princess Gizella.
Sr, Solt and Bese, a group of opportunist noblemen, talk about human frailty - every man chooses the side that seems the most promising. Principles are unimportant ('Gyarl az ember').
The daughter of Istvn's relative Koppny, Rka, has also converted to Christianity and is praying to the new God. Laborc, a follower of her father's, tells her they don't need a foreign god - she should rather trust her father ('Nem vagyunk mg hozzd mltk/Nem kell olyan isten').
Gza has died, the country is in mourning ('Gza fejedelem temetse - Kyrie eleison'). Istvn promises at his grave to be a good prince to his people, yet he is defied by Koppny, who claims to be the rightful successor of Gza's. The followers of both gather behind them and hail them ('Nincs ms t csak az Isten tja').
Act II, 'Esztergom'
Rka, Gizella, the priests and the people are saddened and pray for peace ('Adj bkt Uram/Da pacem, Domine').A group of singers hail Istvn, yet they also sing about past glory ('dvz lgyen Gza fia'). Istvn's tempestuous mother Sarolt is suspicious of such pagan attitudes.
Laborc arrives in Koppny's name, proposing Sarolt a marriage with his lord ('Koppny kldtt, j rnm'). Koppny hopes that by marrying Gza's widow, he may be accepted as his successor. Sarolt finds the proposal outrageous. Laborc is executed immediately.
The three noblemen start making fun of Koppny in front of Istvn, describing him as uncivilized and stupid ('Abcg Koppny'). Istvn is disgusted with them and chases them away.
Istvn is torn apart by the situation. His deep faith and his loyalty towards his family forbid him to fight, yet there don't seem to be any other possibilities. Sarolt admonishes him to be cunning. She tells him to prepare for war ('Istvn fiam!').
Gizella declares herself "bored with politics" and is upset with Istvn: she would like them to have a baby. The German knight Vecellin is also rather unnerved by the fact that they have not yet started a war ('Unom a politikt').
In triumph, Istvn is elected as the ruling prince of the Hungarians. The people hail him as their new lord ('Fejedelmnk Istvn!').
After the feast, Istvn goes away to be alone. He is sad and undecided and converses with God about what to do. Rka observes him. She is secretly in love with Istvn - her father's archenemy -, yet has to keep her feelings secret ('Oly tvol vagy tlem (s mgis kzel)').
Act III, 'Koppny vezr' (Koppny, the chief)
Koppny convokes his followers. He promises a glorious future to them and prepares them for the fight. The people respond enthusiastically ('Szllj fel, szabad madr').Koppny sits in his tent with his three pretty young wives. They extol his qualities as a husband and lover and express their desire for him ('Te vagy a legszebb lmunk'). Koppny is rather distracted and he is soon unnerved by their chattering. He sends them away.
The three opportunists now appear in front of Koppny. They propose him different ways of assassinating Istvn ('Abcg Istvn'). Koppny sends them away - he wants to fight honorably. He also confirms this in front of the shaman Torda and the people - he wants to stand "face to face" with Istvn and his army ('Szemtl szembe'). Torda prays to the pagan gods for victory and brings them sacrifice ('ldozatunk fogadjtok').
Rka has had a nightmare in which she saw her father dead. She implores him not to pursue the conflict. Istvn proposes Koppny the crown if he submits to the Church of Rome. But Koppny's hatred of priests and his determination to win the country are stronger. He tells them that it is "too late" for peace now ('Elksett bkevgy').
Torda presents Koppny's followers the bloody sword, the symbol of war. If they win, Hungary will have a glorious future, he prophesies. The war breaks out and ends with Istvn's victory ('Vres kardot hoztam/Vezess minket, Istvn!').
Act IV, 'Istvn a kirly' (Istvn, the king)
Koppny's side has lost, he has died in battle. A singer laments the dead ('Gyszba ltztt csillagom'). Istvn's followers celebrate at his court. Everyone demands his due ('Hla nked, fejedelem!'). Finally, Rka appears and asks Istvn to give her her dead father's body. He is moved by her sorrow and beauty, but Sarolt brutally chases her away: Koppny would be quartered, as a deterrent for potential rebels ('Halld meg uram, krsem/Felngyelni!').Istvn is shattered and demands to be alone. He desperately prays to God ('Oly tvol vagy tlem' - reprise). Finally, he backs his mother's decision.
Koppny's body is quartered ('Koppny felngyelse/Gloria gloria'). Finally, Istvn is triumphally crowned king of Hungary ('Istvn a kirly').
Political background and interpretation
The choice of a theme that was both strongly connected with national history and with the Christian religion seemed rather daring in the Hungary of the early 1980s. Furthermore, the topic of a fight between two antagonists for the country harkened back to the Hungarian revolution of 1956 which had been crushed by Communist party chief Jnos Kdr, who was still in power at the time 'Istvn, a kirly' was written.
On the another hand, the fact that the character of Istvn was presented as a thoughtful man who nevertheless does "what a man`s gotta do", made the interpretation that he stood for Kdr who also "had to do what he'd gotta do" quite compelling for the regime. Though Istvn's antagonist Koppny is presented as a noble, honest soul, he could also be seen as being somewhat "behind the times", as a person who does not understand what the country needs most. In such an allegorical interpretation, the German knights and the Catholic priests could be put into parallel with the Soviet army stationed in Hungary, and the vital connection of Hungary with the papacy with the country's relationship with the Soviet Union.
On yet another hand, however, the rock opera can also be read as a subversive piece that introduced daring themes such as an open uprising against the state or religion into a mainstream theater piece. Especially among the minority Hungarians in the neighboring countries, 'Istvn, a kirly' was understood as an expression of nationhood and patriotism, explicitly spelled out in the last words of its last song: "Szp Magyarorszg, des haznk." ("Beautiful Hungary, our sweet home.")
'Istvn, a kirly' as a work of art
Music
Composer Levente Szrnyi, who had already worked together with Jnos Brdy (lyrics) for more than two decades when they wrote 'Istvn, a kirly' (most famously in the bands Ills and Fonogrf), chose to characterize every major character and group in the play by its own style of music. Thus, the music of the rock opera encompasses a great variety of styles, ranging from Gregorian chant to hard rock.Istvn's hopes and fears are expressed in melodious pop songs, while Koppny's power and determination is shown through rock pieces. Rka is characterized by simple folk tunes as a girl of the people (her part was sung by famous folk singer Mrta Sebestyn in the original version - she is best known internationally from the soundtrack of the movie 'The English Patient' and for her frequent collaborations with the well-known folk music ensemble Muzsiks). The priests and missionaries sing music akin to Gregorian chant. The mass scenes of the election in Act II and the coronation in Act IV soar to symphonical heights at some moments.
The transition from the old to the new is often compellingly expressed musically, for example in the funeral scene where a traditional Hungarian folk melody is blended into and then vanishes behind a Gregorian "Kyrie eleison".
The wide range of musical styles also explains the large orchestra that is needed for the opera - it has to encompass both most features of a classical orchestra and of a rock band.
Lyrics
Jnos Brdy has been acknowledged as one of the most talented lyrics writers of Hungary and 'Istvn, a kirly' was certainly written in his prime. His subtlety of characterization makes a one-sided interpretation difficult and contributes to the credibility of the characters. Especially the main characters Istvn and Koppny appear as complex figures: Istvn as a pious, deeply affected, somewhat "Hamlet-y", yet finally determined man; Koppny as a passionate character who knows what he wants, yet is not power-hungry, but is rather led by his respect for tradition and the fear that tradition would disappear through the "foreigners" Istvn is bringing into the land.Brdy, himself a secular Jew, is especially subtle in his characterization of the Catholic Church. The rock opera can both be read as traditional "priest criticism", or as a piece that is deeply respectful of faith. In this way, directors are free to determine how to present and represent the priests and missionaries. The original version that was made into a 1984 film favored a neutral position in this respect.
References
Category:1983 musicals
Category:1984 albums
Category:1984 films
Category:Rock operas
Category:Hungarian music
Category:Hungarian musicals
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