Armel Production and Press was founded by Ágnes Havas in July 2003.

Ágnes Havas obtained her M.A. degree in English and French at the Eötvös Lóránt University in 1992. Later she continued her studies in Sweden. After returning to Hungary, Ágnes Havas worked for the International Affairs Editorial at the Hungarian News Agency MTI, as well as for the Interconcert Art Agency. Ágnes Havas then became an associate of the French Institute in Budapest, where she worked for almost a decade as the initiator and organizer of music events. Havas founded her own producer company in 2003 with the aim of developing independent opera and theatre productions as well as co-productions.

Ágnes Havas’ intention is to find collaborative partners for our theatres and opera houses in Europe as well as overseas; to give birth to new productions and to ensure that the reputation of these productions, as well as the reputation of the producing institutes and the participating creative artists reaches the international the national theatre and opera scene.

The production company, despite its early age of seven years, already takes pride in creating not only 5 separate opera productions, but founding and organizing the Armel Opera Competition and Festival (Opera Comeptition and Festival with Mezzo Television earlier) in the third consecutive year.

Armel Opera Competition and Festival was founded by Armel Productions and Press, the Szeged Open-Air Festival, the Pannon Philharmonic and Mezzo Television. It has been organised annually ever since. More than 700 hundred singers have applied for it from 43 different countries, in order to get the lead roles in the 5 productions of 5 the five partner countries of the Competition.

Opera Competition has already presented two world-premieres, one European premiere, five Hungarian premieres and the modern interpretations of two classic operas, which have been broadcast by Mezzo TV (French classical music channel), Magyar Televízió (The National Tv of Hungary), Duna Televízió (Hungarian national and sattelite channel) and Radio Bartók - MR3.

These opera-performances have been created as coproductions by hungarian and foreigner artists - stage directors, set and costume-designers, theatre companies, orchestras, conductors, composers and opera singers and been staged by Dicapo Opera Theatre (New York), Opéra de Rennes, Panstwowa Opera Baltycka (Gdansk), Theater Bremen, Szeged National Theatre, The National Moravian Silesian Theatre, Theatre Biel Solothurn and Csokonai Theatre, Debrecen.

Each of Armel's productions is characterized by a unique value and - as the feedbacks we have received thus far suggest - prestige: from contemporary Hungarian productions (Le Balcon by Péter Eötvös), to traditional grand operas (Attila by Verdi, Faust by Gounod, Bluebeard's Castle by Béla Bartók) and to the first opening of a baroque composer, Charpentier's opera in the Palace of Versailles.

In addition to these significant art events, the first seven years of Armel Production is featured by other prestigious concerts, orchestra tours, local and foreign exhibitions and music recordings as well.