With you, Lord! at Budapest Operetta and Musical Theatre

It is the first time ever, that a repertory theatre will present this intriguing rock opera that has been likened to Shakespearean history plays and that is “...not a sequel to ‘Stephen, the King'. It is more like the final chapter in the life of Saint Stephen (István), first King of Hungary and founder of the Kingdom of Hungary. We have felt it coming years ago: this piece offered itself, to let us answer the questions left unanswered. The piece is merely of fiction, but is based on historical facts, which guided us even when we let our creative spirit free" - said the composer.

With you, Lord! takes place in the last years of Stephen and reveals such secrets, previously known only from the Hungarian chronicles, as the mystery of the death of Imre, Stephen's only son and heir, which results in bloody contention for the crown. Secret pacts, schemes, and intrigue everywhere: in the background and in public as well.

What does it mean to us? It tells us that things were not so different then, than they were in the next few centuries... It is the irony of history that it were the heirs of Stephen's cousin and opponent, Vászoly, whom had his eyes gouged out by Stephen, who eventually became the successors of the throne of Árpád after the interregnum.

It has been ten years since the premiere. Following the request of Miklós-Gábor Kerényi, Levente Szörényi and János Bródy created a new version of the play including four new songs and spectacular cinematic visuals. Szörényi's work presents an almost Wagneresque musical dramatic construction in which the psychological elements are the most important. This is the masterpiece that, as the forerunner of ‘Árpád's people', covers the composer's whole oeuvre.

It is a special moment in every theatre's history, in which three generations: the great predecessors, the great successors and the young talents all hit the stage together. With you, for you and in order to present a tiny, but important piece of our Hungarian history.