Following a series of extensive tours, the Hungarian State Opera returns is set to return to the Erkel Theatre to begin its 135th season, which will be dedicated to Puccini and his contemporaries.

As expected the company will kick off its brand new season with one of Puccini’s finest works, “La Fanciulla del West,” in a new production by Vasily Barkhatov.

Per a press release, “The new production will not be a traditional one but it will respect Puccini’s intentions. The set and costumes do not intend to evoke the universe of Western films, the visual design take audiences closer to reality. The multi-storey pipe system to appear on stage allows a glimpse into a crowded refugee camp where people arrive with the hope of a better future.”

The production will star Éva Bátori and Szilvia Rálik alternating the role of  Minnie, Boldizsár László and Gergely Boncsér as Dick Johnson and Csaba Szegedi and Florin Estefan sharing Jack Rance. Balázs Kocsár is set to conduct.

The opera opens on Dec. 1, 2018, and runs through the 16 with two performances scheduled May 22 and 24, 2019.