Lajos Miller

A possible impostor torments a newly crowned medieval czar who may have ordered the real successor's death.

A mystical rock opera The opera by composer Levente Szörényi and librettist Zsolt Pozsgai (based on the play by Tibor Fonyódi) recalls one of the most controversial, interesting and yet least known periods in Hungarian history. We are in the aftermath of Stephen's death, when, with Peter Orseolo on the throne, more and more people are demanding the return of the representatives of 'Árpád's people'.

1213 Queen Gertrude of Meran's compatriots are playing the dorba in the royal castle. The unpeaceful Hungarian nobles are watching the dárido, and under the leadership of King Petur they are plotting. Their anger is only increased by the fact that while the king's viceroy, Bánk bán, who is fighting in the distance, is roaming the country, his wife, the beautiful Melinda, who has been left at court, is being besieged more and more openly by the queen's lecherous brother Otto. Petur secretly recalls Bánko, who, however, accuses the unpeaceful of treason. But Otto's confidant, the knight Biberach, tells Banach that the prince is trying to seduce Melinda. Otto, encouraged by the Queen, prepares to make a decisive attack. He pursues his lover Melinda in the castle's cloisters and chapel, and she rejects him contemptuously, but is nevertheless in a misunderstood position. Bánk, who has just seen them, is shocked: it seems that his adoring spouse is indeed unfaithful...

The opera-film, as opposed to Gluck's Vienna version, is a recollection of the ancient tragic Greek myth. Orpheus, who is able to defeat Hades with the power of art, is unable to conquer his own human defects. Amor is sympathetic to Orpheus' sufferings as he mourns his dead beloved, and lets him know the message sent by the Gods, namely that he may take her home from the underworld if he is capable of not looking at her.

In Burgundy, persecuted Huguenots are dragged to the scaffold. The lord of Corneville, the Huguenot Marquis de Corneville, and his friend Count Grusenet are also facing the death penalty and must flee. The Marquis's property, the Count's daughter, is entrusted to Father Gaspar. Twenty years pass. Father Gáspár has now raised two orphaned daughters, the daughter entrusted to his care and a foundling. Serpolette is one of them, dreaming that one day she will be discovered to be of noble birth. Serpolette is in love with Grenicheau, a clever, cunning fellow, but he is more in love with the other girl, Germain. Germain is destined to be a judge by her stepfather, but she hopes a prophecy will come true that she will marry the man who will come from the sea and save her life, so she refuses him.