Oberon's Glade

Tag: The Hungarian

  • Maria von Ilosvay

    Maria von Ilosvay

    The Hungarian mezzo-soprano Maria von Ilosvay won the 1937 International Singing Contest at Vienna. Thereafter she joined a touring opera company for two years – even traveling to America, in performances organized by Sol Hurok – before joining the Hamburg Opera in 1940. She sang at Vienna, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Salzburg,

    Ms. von Ilosvay participated in the first post-war Bayreuth Festivals. In her book New Bayreuth, Penelope Turing writes with admiration of the mezzo in such RING Cycle roles as Erda, Waltraute, and the First Norn.

    At the Salzburg Festival, Ms. von Ilosvay took part in the first staged performance of LE VIN HERBE by Frank Martin in 1948, and in the premiere of Carl Orf’f”s ANTIGONAE in 1949. With the ensemble of the Hamburg Staatsoper, she was a guest at the Edinburgh Festival, and in 1956 sang Jocasta in Stravinsky’s OEDIPUS REX at the Holland Festival. Also in 1956, she appeared as a guest artist at London’s Royal Opera House.

    In 1967, Maria von Ilosvay sang Marcellina in a filmed German-language ‘studio’ performance of Mozart’s NOZZE DI FIGARO. Her scene with the brilliant Susanna of Edith Mathis is a delight.

    Ms. von Ilosvay recorded the role of Erda twice, and was the mezzo-soprano soloist on a recording of the Verdi REQUIEM with the Accademia di Santa Cecilia. She is also The Mother on Herbert von Karajan’s recording of HANSEL UND GRETEL. She did a great deal of concert work, and was a noted recitalist.

    Maria von Ilosvay passed away at Hamburg in 1987.

  • Julia Hamari ~ Bach’s “Erbarme dich”

    Hamari

    The Hungarian contralto Julia Hamari (above) is perhaps best-loved for her classic performance in Karl Richter’s 1971 televised performance of Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion, which is preserved on video. Her singing of the aria “Erbarme dich“, with violin soloist Otto Büchner, is spellbinding. Watch it here.

  • Julia Hamari ~ Bach’s “Erbarme dich”

    Hamari

    The Hungarian contralto Julia Hamari (above) is perhaps best-loved for her classic performance in Karl Richter’s 1971 televised performance of Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion, which is preserved on video. Her singing of the aria “Erbarme dich“, with violin soloist Otto Büchner, is spellbinding. Watch it here.

  • Rosette Anday

    Anday-Rosette - Copy

    The Hungarian mezzo-soprano Rosette Anday made her Vienna State Opera debut in 1921 at the age of 18 as Carmen. Franz Schalk, the Company’s director, had first heard the young mezzo-soprano in Budapest, where she studied at the local conservatoire whilst also taking violin lessons. Schalk engaged her immediately, and following her highly successful debut, she went on to become one of Vienna’s most beloved stars. Richard Strauss – no less – was Ms. Anday’s accompanist when she gave her first lieder recital in the Grosse Musikvereinssaal in Vienna soon after her debut.

    Rosette Anday’s roles included Mozart’s Cherubino and Dorabella, Verdi’s Preziosilla, Amneris, and Azucena, Wagner’s Fricka, Erda, Waltraute, Brangane, and Adriano in RIENZI, Laura in GIOCONDA, Dalila, and Klytemnestra. She was one of the youngest singers ever to be named ‘Kammersängerin‘.

    Banned from the stage during the Nazi occupation of Austria, Ms. Anday was able to resume her career immediately after the war, joining the renowned ensemble at the Theater an der Wien. In 1961, she celebrated the 40th anniversary of her debut with a performance of Klytemnestra.

    Also beloved as a concert artist and recitalist, Rosette Anday toured North and South America and appeared in Berlin, Paris, and at the Salzburg Festival. She passed away in 1977.

    Rosette Anday – Erda’s Warning ~ RHEINGOLD – 1948 – with F Frantz

    Rosette Anday – Printemps qui commence ~ SAMSON ET DALILA

    Rosette Anday – Mahler’s Urlicht