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.

Review by Dr. Gyimese Emese, researcher:

"Mariann Tallián, Balázs Lázár and Csörsz Rumen István Csörsz's Júlia evening entitled The Wife of Wives is a performance put together with fine flair and a fresh approach. Because Júlia Szendrey is still surrounded by a multitude of stereotypes, this performance, which, as a stage production, is the first to attempt not to exclusively See her as Petőfi's wife and widow, but also as a talented and independent creator, an independent, colorful personality. With subtle, yet extremely effective solutions, the performance expresses how organically these - in today's terms - different female roles were connected in the life of Júlia Szendrey. One of the most striking examples of this is the scene in which Júlia Szendrey lets go of the widow's veil while reciting the key lines of her poem "De vyututt meke" ("At that moment,/ In which I would forget you,/ Flying after you/ May the soul leave you.")

The presentation is based entirely on original sources. It was a brave decision on the part of the creators to not translate and rewrite the diverse and deep human emotions and problems they wanted to display on stage, but to take on the challenge of reciting original source texts for the entire duration of the performance. It is an uplifting experience to experience how these forgotten 19th century texts can have a vivid effect on the viewers.

It should be emphasized that Júlia Szendrey's poems have never been recited on stage before, the creators were the first to do so, and thus showed how these hitherto little-known and insufficiently appreciated works by literary historians are alive and effective in the 21st century. Thanks to the presentation, it became clear that the writings that are able to affect the audience in this way are not only interesting as a legacy of Sándor Petőfi's widow, but also have an independent artistic power.

I hope that as many people as possible will see this performance, which marks a decisive turn in the perception of one of the most iconic female figures of the 19th century, thanks to the fact that it introduces viewers to the most authentic source: Júlia Szendrey's own writing voice."

About the Performers:

Balázs Lázár and Mariann Tallián are actors and writers. Since 2004, they have been creating poetry and prose theater performances and popularizing the treasure trove of Hungarian literature from here and beyond as part of the Ketten a versben art formation. Their work was recognized with the Artisjus Performing Arts Award in 2023. Both graduated from the Acting Department of the University of Theater and Film Arts and are members of the committee of the Hungarian Writers' Association. Lázár Balázs Bella István Prize-winning poet, published seven volumes of poems. He obtained a DLA degree in 2016, and his theater theory dissertation was published under the title Masqueland. He is an assistant professor and lecturer at the University of Theater and Film in Budapest, holder of numerous professional awards. As an actor, he currently plays at Vígszínház and Karinthy Színház. Mariann Tallián studied violin at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music, and after receiving her acting diploma, she was a member of the Szigliget Theater in Szolnok, Sándor Hevesi Theater in Zalaegerszeg, and the National Theater. She started writing while raising two sons. Author of six volumes, permanent publicist of Olvasat.hu literary portal, also recipient of several professional awards and recognitions.

Their poetry and prose theater performances, which as a stage genre provide space for the creation of old and new forms of expression and content, encourage theatre, performance and associate artists to stage artistic works whose central idea is the expression of the poem and the use of broader stage/theatre tools voicing. At the center of their work is the preservation of tradition and the search for new paths, the introduction of the classic and contemporary treasury of Hungarian poetry, and the cultivation of the Hungarian language as widely as possible, both here and beyond the border. Their mission is considered by many to be a "cultural mission".

In addition to their theater work, they have been touring the country since 2010, from disadvantaged micro-regions to big cities and Hungarian communities across the border. They visited the Highlands, Austria, Slovenia, Partium, Transylvania, Vojvodina and Denmark several times. An important activity of theirs is that they regularly attend schools as part of extraordinary literature classes. Their performances are mostly performed in libraries, cultural centers, museums, podium halls, requiring minimal stage techniques, and they confess that theater is "a combination of board and passion".

Special thanks to the Hungarian Consulate of New York and the Liszt Institute for their assistance with bringing this unique program to our stage.