The performance will also feature Kossuth Award-winning opera singer Eszter Sümegi.

Meli, for whom this will be the first performance in Hungary, has already played leading roles at La Scala, the Metropolitan, Arena di Verona, Royal Opera House in London, Opera National de Lyon, and the Zurich Opera. He has a repertoire of more than 50 roles but says Caravadossi is one of his favorites.

“It is important to point out that the audience can only see me in Budapest in this role this year as I will only play it here,” said Meli. “I am really looking forward to the performance, I am excited when I think about it. Because of the role, of course, but also because I had never been to Budapest before.”

When asked about his thoughts about open-air concerts, Meli said they are always “captivating and out of the ordinary.” He awaits to learn about the characteristics and history of the stage in Budapest and describe new productions as exciting and inspiring.

“Each time is like re-studying the opera from the beginning, and there are always new discoveries,” he noted.