The Rake's Progress at Hungarian State Opera, Opera House

At a Chicago exhibition in 1947, Igor Stravinsky stopped before eight pictures by 18th century British painter William Hogarth, which tell the story of a young man in the country who unexpectedly inherited a large fortune. He travelled to London, where he soon lost his way and ended up in a lunatic asylum. This is the theme of Stravinsky's last neo-classical opera, which became a 20th century paraphrase of Faust, a parable, in which our 'hero' finds a diabolic attendant. 'For idle hands and hearts and minds the Devil finds a work to do; a work, dear Sir, fair Madam, for you - and you.'