Robert Ilosfalvy

Robert Ilosfalvy (born June 18, 1927) is an Hungarian operatic tenor, he possessed a voice of lyric grace and dramatic power enabling him to sing a wide range of roles in the Italian, German, and French repertories.

Born in Hodmezovarsarhely, Hungary, he began his career as a cantor singing in synagogue, before studying at the Budapest Music Academy with Andor Lendrai. In 1953, after winning a first prize in a vocal competition in Bucharest, he made his operatic debut there. He returned to Hungary and sang at the Budapest Opera, also making guest appearances in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Russia.

In 1964, he began a career in West Germany, singing in Stuttgart, Berlin, Hamburg, Koln, Munich, also making guest appearances at La Monnaie in Brussels, the Royal Opera House in London, the San Francisco Opera and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Ilosfalvy was particularly admired in Italian lyric roles such as Duke of Mantua, Alfredo, Rodolfo, Pinkerton, but was also able to tackle successfully more dramatic roles such as Manrico, Alvaro, Cavaradossi, and Dick Johnson. Healso won acclaim as Walther Stolzing, and Don Jose.

He is probably best known for his 1969 recording of "Roberto Devereux", opposite Beverly Sills.

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* [http://www.operissimo.com Operissimo.com]