Description
Szörényi – Bródy: Stephen the King – Rock Opera (Extracts) CD
UPC: —
MPN: PR 1917
Brand Name: Hungaroton / Videoton
Label: Hungaroton Records, Budapest
Format: Compact Disc (Digital Audio)
Release Year: 1988
Genre: Rock Opera / Symphonic Rock / Hungarian Musical
Style: Historical Rock Drama, Concept Album
Overview
Stephen the King (István, a király) is a Hungarian rock opera by Levente Szörényi and János Bródy, based on the drama Millennium by Miklós Boldizsár. The story dramatizes the founding of the Christian Hungarian state and the conflict between pagan tradition and new faith, embodied in the struggle between King Stephen (István) and Koppány, the leader of the pagan resistance.
This 1988 Hungaroton–Videoton CD represents an important cultural and technological milestone—it was the first compact disc ever manufactured in Hungary, created to commemorate both the millennium of King Stephen’s death and the beginning of a new digital recording era in Hungarian music.
The album features extracts from the full stage production and includes performances by Hungary’s finest rock and classical artists, blending electric instrumentation, choral grandeur, and symphonic arrangements.
Product Features
- Format: Compact Disc (Digital Audio)
- Label: Hungaroton PR 1917
- Produced By: Videoton, Magyar Hitelbank Rt., and Hungaroton
- Recording Studios: HMHV P. Studio and Főnix Studio, Budapest
- Release Date: December 1988
- Recording Type: Digitally Remastered
- Language: English (translated extracts) / Hungarian original text
- Orchestra: Hungarian State Opera House Orchestra and Chorus
- Conductor: László Makláry
- Choirmaster: Miklós Szalai
- Musical Director: Szabolcs Szörényi
- Sound Engineers: Sándor Kálmán, János Bohus
- Design: Béla Aba
Track Listing
- Who Would You Choose?
- Come Fill Our Hearts, Light
- Man Is Weak
- We Are Not Yet Worthy of Thee
- Burial of Prince Géza
- There Is No Way but the Lord’s Way
- Give Us Peace, Lord!
- You Are So Far from Me
- Fly Up, Free Bird
- Face to Face
- Receive Our Sacrifice
- Belated Wish for Peace
- I Bring a Sword Dipped in Blood
- The Quartering of Koppány
- Stephen the King
- National Anthem (Erkel–Kölcsey)
Principal Cast
- Stephen (István): Miklós Varga
- Sarolt, Stephen’s Mother: Kati Berek
- Gizella, Stephen’s Wife: Bernadett Sára
- Asztrik, Prelate: Máté Victor
- Sebestyén, Priest: Jácint Juhász
- Vecellin: Lajos Balázsovits
- Hont: Zsolt Körtvélyessy
- German Knights: Sándor Halmágyi
- Pázmány: Gyula Vikidál
- Koppány, Rebel Leader: Gyula “Bill” Deák
- Torda, the Shaman: Feró Nagy
- Laborc: Márta Sebestyén
- Réka, Koppány’s Daughter: Zsuzsa Nyertes
- Boglárka: Ildikó Hűvösvölgyi
- Sur: Sándor Szakácsi
- Solt: Sándor Sörös
- Bese: Péter Balázs
- Koppány’s Wives: Enikő Tóth and Enikő
Musicians
- Levente Szörényi – Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Percussion, Vocals
- Szabolcs Szörényi – Bass Guitar, Synthesizer, Vocals
- János Bródy – Acoustic Guitar
- Lajos Illés – Piano, Hammond Organ
- Mihály Móricz – Electric Guitar, Vocals
- Oszkár Németh / Zoltán Pásztory – Drums, Percussion
- László Tolcsvay – Piano, Synthesizer, Vocals
- Wind Arrangements: László Dés
- Symphonic Orchestration: István Mártha
Interesting Facts
- Historical Significance: This CD marked the birth of digital audio manufacturing in Hungary (produced by Videoton in 1988).
- Cultural Symbol: Stephen the King serves as both a patriotic and spiritual allegory—reflecting Hungary’s struggle between old and new, pagan and Christian, East and West.
- Cross-Genre Achievement: The fusion of Hungarian folk, symphonic, and rock elements made it a unique milestone in Eastern European music history.
- Legacy of István, a király: The original Hungarian version, premiered in 1983, became one of the most beloved rock operas in the nation’s history, performed on stage, television, and later revived in film.
- Audiophile Production: The digital mastering was done with advanced Videoton equipment to mark the company’s transition to modern technology.
Publishers
© 1988 Hungaroton Records / Videoton / Magyar Hitelbank Rt. Made in Hungary. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, broadcasting, or copying prohibited.
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