"The Wife of all Wives" - Life of Julia Szeredy

A thought-provoking musical, literature, and poetry production, bringing to life aspects that evoke the mid 19th century Hungary. Uncovering the individuality of Júlia Szendrey, we learn of her desire for freedom and how she became the Hungarian pioneer of the modern woman with her character and courage.

The backbone of this costumed, theatrical composition are the excerpts from the diary and poems of the great Hungarian muse, Júlia Szendrey, performed by Mariann Tallián (Gondolatim, érzeményeim; Élni vagy meghalni; Bármerre nézzek).  Her life is further reflected in the details of her husband, Sándor Petőfi's travel letters and the poems he wrote to her in the interpretation of Balázs Lázár (The bush trembles because... At the end of September, What shall I call you?).

Julia's spirit is enlivened by the notes of contemporaries, contemporary newspaper articles, and contemporary documents. And featured are her own folk art songs written to contemporary melodies, Petőfi's sung poems (among others, set to music by János Arany), as well as some instrumental melodies from the Hungarian social music scene of the 1840s, sung by István Rumen Csörsz, from a recording.

The production brings us closer to Júlia Szendrey's individuality, which is in parallel with the age's desire for freedom, in the visual world that evokes the age in the unity of music and literature. The Hungarian pioneer of the modern woman sets an example for us with her character and courage.