[1] This might have resulted from Erkel's 'partiality' towards the revolting peasants, as he still believed in the principles of the Revolution of 1848, whereas popular attitudes were more critical of them after the country's compromise with Austria that ended military dictatorship in Hungary and established a dual monarchy.

Compared to his previous works, the music of György Dózsa features less music in the style of Hungarian folk songs and signalled a shift in Erkel's style, possibly as a result of the growing involvement of his sons, Sándor and Gyula Erkel.

It starts with King Ulászló (Vladislaus II of Hungary) ennobling Dózsa for his valiance to the dismay of his lords.

At the same time, his bride Rózsa and his friend Barna come from their ancestral village, reminding Dózsa of his origins.

I, György Dózsa, now take a bold oath with my people,Who cultivate the sacred soil of my homeland,That I ever expected all blessings from this land,The people likewise place all their fervent faith in it,Only to this sacred ground are our lives bound,A whole world is this precious land to us:Our mother, our homeland, and our sweet everything!

A fortune-teller comes to the camp and prophesies 'a throne and a crown' for Dózsa, but he is preoccupied with the fact that his followers had captured Lóra.