Hungarian State Opera House: Artistic Expression in Stone and Marble

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we visit a formidable diva among architectural masterpieces in Budapest.

Besides its noticeable mansard roof, what draws the eye to the Hungarian State Opera House is the plethora of sculptures adorning it. From their perches along the top balcony balustrades to tucked inside niches flanking the second-floor portico, statuary represents notable composers and musicians. The main front-facing entryway has an entablature supported by a series of arches and columns. While the main façade presents impressive limestone block construction, the building’s sides and back—which are out of view of this photograph—are plaster over brick. Mitzo/Shutterstock

The 19th-century Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest was considered Hungarian architect Miklos Ybl’s stunning achievement. While it is not the largest opera house in Europe, it is an architectural standout among the genre of structures. For his design, Ybl drew inspiration from an opera house in Vienna, Austria.

Completed in 1884 and considered palace-like in its scale, sophistication, and ostentation, the opera house is distinctly Renaissance Revival—sometimes referred to as Neo-Renaissance—in style. Classic Italian design motifs and architectural elements are the pillars of neo-Renaissance. Stone masonry construction, symmetrical facades, grandiose scale, semicircular arches, domes, and centerpiece staircases predominate.