Country

:

Hungary

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Erzsébet Komlóssy was a Hungarian mezzo-soprano who was born on October 7, 1929, in Budapest, Hungary. She was the daughter of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Her father was a violinist and her mother was a pianist. From a young age, Komlóssy showed a great interest in music and began singing in choirs and taking piano lessons. Komlóssy studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, where she received her diploma in 1953. She then joined the Hungarian State Opera, where she made her debut as Rosina in Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" in 1954. She quickly became one of the leading mezzo-sopranos in Hungary and was known for her powerful voice and dramatic performances. In 1956, Komlóssy was invited to perform at the Salzburg Festival, where she sang the role of Cherubino in Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro." This performance was a major success and helped to launch her international career. She went on to perform at many of the world's leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Royal Opera House in London, and La Scala in Milan. Komlóssy was known for her versatility as a singer and was equally at home in operas, oratorios, and lieder. She was particularly renowned for her interpretations of the works of Bach, Handel, and Mozart. She was also a champion of contemporary music and premiered many works by Hungarian composers, including György Ligeti and Zoltán Kodály. Throughout her career, Komlóssy received many awards and honors. In 1961, she was awarded the Kossuth Prize, Hungary's highest cultural award. She was also awarded the Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic in 1991. In 1993, she was awarded the title of "Artist of the Nation" by the Hungarian government. One of Komlóssy's most memorable performances was her portrayal of the title role in Bizet's "Carmen." She first performed the role in 1958 at the Hungarian State Opera and went on to perform it many times throughout her career. Her performance was praised for its intensity and emotional depth. Another highlight of Komlóssy's career was her performance in the world premiere of Ligeti's opera "Le Grand Macabre" at the Royal Opera House in London in 1978. The opera was a critical and commercial success and helped to establish Ligeti as one of the leading composers of the 20th century. Komlóssy retired from the stage in 1991 but continued to teach and mentor young singers. She was a professor at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest and was known for her dedication to her students. Many of her students went on to have successful careers in opera and music. Erzsébet Komlóssy passed away on December 28, 1991, at the age of 62. She was remembered as one of the greatest mezzo-sopranos of her generation and a true ambassador of Hungarian music. Her recordings continue to be admired and studied by singers and music lovers around the world.

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