This is the second post about the Hungarian opera stamp set of 1967 depicting scenes from famous operas. It discusses the second four stamps in this series of eight. Make sure to check out Part One here. Stamps that feature opera topics such as singers, composers, and opera houses are fairly common, especially from European countries. For example, you can find other posts on this blog about stamps honoring major anniversaries of the Khedevial Opera House in Cairo and La Scala in Milan. This stamp set, however, features famous operas with images representing famous scenes from those stories.
Of particular note, the stamps are not even solely about Hungarian operas. Only two of the eight operas are by Hungarian composers: Bela Bartok and Ferenc Erkel. Instead, the stamp set is really a celebration of popular operas from across Europe. The stamps were made with the photogravure printing process and are the designs of two Hungarian artists, László Kékesi and Ferenc Gall. The first four stamps were by Gall, whereas these second four are by Kékesi. These two artists were also a part of the team that made the designs for the Communist postal officials conference in Hungary in 1963. Learn more about that set here.
The last four stamps in the Hungarian opera stamp set depict the operas: Carmen (Bizet), Don Carlos (Verdi), Tannhauser (Wagner), and Laszlo Hunyadi (Erkel).
Carmen
Scott Number HU 1852
The fifth stamp in the set has the denomination of 80 fillér. Of course, like all four of the stamps in this post, the design was by the Hungarian artist László Kékesi. The opera Carmen, undoubtedly, is the most famous of all operas. Indeed, two of its arias, the “Habanera” and the Toreador Song” are recognizable to almost everyone. However, the piece was actually scandalous when it made its premiere, because of its sexuality and other subject manner.
Georges Bizet wrote all of the music for the four acts of Carmen, with the libretto being the work of Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy. The story comes from a popular novel of the same title. The first performance took place in March 3, 1875. Unfortunately, Bizet would die exactly three months later and never truly realize the popularity of his best known work.
The Opera
The opera takes place in the city of Seville, Spain in the first half of the nineteenth century. The thrust of the story revolves around a love triangle between Carmen, a cigarette girl who works in a tobacco factory, José, a soldier, and Escamillo, a bullfighter. At the beginning of the story, Carmen entices José, who eventually spends time in prison to protect her from arrest. Later, after serving his sentence, José encounters Carmen again. This time, a struggle with Zuniga, one of his officers, over Carmen causes the soldier José to desert his post and escape with Carmen and others.
However, in exile, Carmen grows tired of José. Instead, the bullfighter Escamillo becomes her new object of affection. When Escamillo goes to Seville for a bullfight, everyone follows to watch the event. José corners Carmen and tries to woo her back. He is desperate to continue their relationship, but she refuses. In the end, he stabs and kills Carmen.
The stamp shows Carmen and the soldier José together, flirtatiously, probably in their initial meeting at the beginning of the opera. You can learn more about the story on The Met Opera’s website. Check out the famous Habanera performance below:
Don Carlos
Scott Number HU 1853
The sixth stamp in the set is the 1 forint denomination. It features Giuseppe Verdi’s grand opera Don Carlos. The story is loosely based on historical events and the marriage of Philip II of Spain to Elisabeth of Valois of France, uniting two powerful catholic houses during the sixteenth century Reformation. The premiere of Don Carlos took place in Paris on March 11, 1867. The five act opera can take four hours to perform and is Verdi’s longest opera.
The Opera
The basic story of Don Carlos is that the Infante of Spain, Don Carlos, is engaged to marry Elisabeth of Valois. Essentially, the word Infante means prince (not baby as in English) and the adult Don Carlos first sees Elisabeth in the forest and falls madly in love with her. However, a peace treaty between Spain and France is predicated on Elisabeth marrying not Don Carlos, but his father, King Philip II. The entire story then is based upon Don Carlos’ anguish, Elisabeth stuck in the unhappy marriage, and King Philip suspecting that the two are having an affair. A long opera, but filled with the glorious music of Verdi. You can learn more about the full story here.
The postage stamp appears to show King Philip and his son Don Carlos in royal attire on steps in the castle. The superiority of King Philip is shown by him standing on a higher step. His heartbroken son looks down in sorrow.
Verdi is at his best when he is writing for large orchestra and opera. Here is a favorite chorus from Don Carlos.
Tannhäuser
Scott Number HU 1854
Next in the Hungarian opera stamp set is the 1.70 forints denomination. Of course, it celebrates Richard Wagner’s 1845 opera Tannhäuser. One of Wagner’s most beloved operas, it is also one of the easier to understand, both its plot and its music. The story is told in three acts and is an amalgamation of two medieval German legends. Both the libretto and the score are by Wagner, although he was never completely satisfied with the work. He altered it several times and it is known in three basic versions, the Dresden version of 1845, the Paris version of 1861, and the Vienna version of 1875.
The Opera
Tannhäuser takes place in medieval Thuringen, Germany. The title character is a knight and a minstrel, and the story opens with him worshipping Venus, the goddess of lust, in her fortress Venusberg. In this forbidden place, Tannhäuser sings praises to the goddess accompanied on his harp. After a year in her presence, he grows bored, and escape back to reality, near the Wartburg castle.
Once in reality, Tannhäuser remembers his love for Elisabeth, who has been waiting for him during his year away. A song competition is happening and the Landgrave is going to give the hand of his daughter, Elisabeth, to the winner. Tannhäuser sings a song of lust and praises Venus. Everyone in the audience knows that he has just pent a year with the goddess and it is seen as an affront to Elisabeth. The Landgrave orders Tannhäuser to visit the Pope in Rome to receive forgiveness for his lust.
Months pass, but when Tannhäuser, he has failed to receive forgiveness from Rome. He goes to Venus once again, but his friend Wolfram stops him. Elisabeth has died in sorrow over waiting for Tannhäuser. When he see her dead, Tannhäuser dies himself of shock. Although he is dead, he has received salvation through his love for Elisabeth. To learn more about the story check out The Met Opera site.
The stamp depicts the opening scene where Tannhäuser is in Venusberg playing his harp for Venus. On the stamp, the goddess attempts to keep in her fortress, while he is trying to escape her.
Check out this rather unusual production of the Grand March from Tannhäuser.
László Hunyadi
Scott Number 1855
Finally, the last stamp in the 1967 Hungarian Opera stamp set is the 3 forint denomination. It pays tribute to another Hungarian opera, László Hunyadi by Ferenc Erkel. Surely, it is the least well-known opera in the entire set of eight stamps. The libretto for the opera is by Béni Egressy. The premiere of the opera was on January 27, 1844. The music includes references to Hungarian folk songs and dances. The opera is largely regarded as the first important Hungarian opera.
The Opera
The three acts of László Hunyadi begin a few months after János Hunyadi has successfully defended and repelled the Ottoman Turks from the country. This was a historical event that kept Turkish troops out of Europe for another seventy years. In the opera, a young relative, László Hunyadi is to marry Maria Gara. The regent Cillei arrives, with a plot to kill the young Hunyadi. László and other soldiers, however, foil the attempt and kill Cillei. This angers the king of Hungary, although he dare not defy the Hunyadi family in the wake of the great victory.
Instead, the king visits the Hunyadi’s, feigning friendship. While on the trip, he falls in love with Maria Gara, and her father Miklós Gara, wants to take advantage of a better match for his daughter. He promises the king the hand of his daughter, and lies saying that the Hunyadi’s are planning to assassinate the king. As a result, the king entrusts Gara to take care of the young László. The king’s troops disrupt the wedding of László Hunyadi and Maria Gara, throwing the groom in jail. After Maria fails in a rescue attempt for her beloved, the opera ends with the execution of László. Learn more about this story here.
The stamp depicts the young lovers, perhaps at their wedding, with armed troops approaching in the distance. Below is one production of the wedding scene in the opera. The music and dancing in this scene really capture the folk style for which the opera is famous.
