In my thesis, I examine the 1983 rock opera István, a király (Stephen the King), including the album created by Levente Szörényi and János Bródy, the film directed by Gábor Koltay, and the series of outdoor performances organised during the film shoot. I explore its pioneering role in the 1980s Hungarian music scene and public life, as well as the potential connections and precursory nature to the subsequent regime change in Hungary a few years later. I also examine the resonance it generated through its adaptation in various genres. Additionally, I discuss its connections with the folk dance-house movement, which emerged in the 1970s and flourished in the following decade, as well as further folklore features of the work.