A circuit arrangement (10) for operation of a high-pressure discharge lamp having a commutation device (K), which has an input (E1, E2) for coupling to a DC voltage source and has an output (A1, A2) for coupling to the high-pressure discharge lamp (EL). A control apparatus (12) is configured to commutate the polarity with which the voltage (UZW), which is applied to the input (E1, E2) of the commutation device (K), is coupled to the output (A1, A2) of the commutation device (K). A synchronization apparatus (14) is configured to provide a synchronization signal (Sy) at its output (A1, A2). A timer apparatus (16) is configured to produce a commutation initiation signal (KA) at its output (A1, A2), which commutation initiation signal (KA) is synchronized with a predeterminable operating frequency of the high-pressure discharge lamp (EL). A pattern apparatus (18) stores a choice of possible commutation times, with the choice of the possible commutation times being synchronized in time to the synchronization signal (Sy).