A method and a circuit arrangement for the operation of a high-pressure gas discharge lamp (HID [high intensity discharge] lamp or UHP [ultra high performance] lamp) is described, which lamp is particularly suitable for illuminating projection displays with sequential color rendering (for example LCOS or SCR-DMD systems) with a pulsatory lamp current. Artefacts in the color rendering are avoided through the generation of at least one compensation pulse of a given amplitude and a given timing and through superimposition thereof on the lamp current.