Rigó Jancsi played at the Magyar Király for the first time during the opening of the theater, when he was not yet widely known. The opening ceremony of the theater took place on August 22, 1874.

The inauguration was attended by Mór Jókai, Pál Gyulai, László Arany, and Ferenc Pulszky. Jókai's occasional greeting, the Prologue, was recited by Róza Laborfalvy. The inaugural gala performance featured József Katona's Bánk bán. After the ceremony, the celebration continued at the Magyar Király, where Jancsi was already playing music. Jókai was a great fan of Gypsy music—Pista Dankó, for instance, was also his friend.

After Jancsi and his love, the beautiful princess, arrived in Fehérvár, they appeared in one of the theatre's boxes on the evening of their arrival, causing a great sensation. Nobody knew them, and everyone wanted to find out who they were... When the locals learned who the mysterious guests were, nearly a hundred Gypsy musicians played the violin in front of the Hotel Magyar Király that evening.