Sylvia Sass: Difference between revisions
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'''Sylvia Sass''' ( |
'''Sylvia Sass''' ([[July 12]], [[1951]]) is an acclaimed Hungarian [[opera]]tic [[soprano]], particularly associated with [[Verdi]] roles. |
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Born in [[Budapest]], [[Hungary]], she studied at [[Franz Liszt Academy of Music]] in Budapest with Ferenc Révhegyi. She made her |
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At the age of fourteen, Sass made her stage debut in a school production of [[Adolphe Adam]]'s operetta, ''[[La poupée de Nuremberg]]''. She later began studying music at the world-famous [[Liszt Academy]], where she completed a five-year program in two years. She then commenced a seven-year stint with the [[Hungarian State Opera]], where she made her professional debut as Frasquita in [[Georges Bizet]]'s ''[[Carmen]]'', in 1971. |
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professional debut at the [[Hungarian State Opera]], as Frasquita in [[Georges Bizet]]'s ''[[Carmen]]'', in 1971. The following year, she appeared at the [[Sofia National Opera]], as Violetta in ''[[La traviata]]'', and during the 1974-75 season at the [[Salzburg Festival]] singing [[Mozart]] in concert. |
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In 1975, she sang at the [[Scottish Opera]], as Desdemona in [[Verdi]]'s ''[[Otello]]'', and in 1976, made her debut at the [[Royal Opera House]] in London, in a much acclaimed performance of Giselda in ''[[I Lombardi]]'', returning the following season as [[La traviata|Violetta]]. In 1977, she made her debut at the [[Metropolitan Opera]] in New York, as ''[[Tosca]]''. She also appeared at the [[Vienna State Opera]], the [[Munich State Opera]], the opera houses of [[Cologne]], [[Frankfurt]], [[Berlin]], [[Hamburg]], as well as the [[Palais Garnier|Paris Opera]] and the [[Aix-en-Provence Festival]], both as Violetta. In 1978, she made her debut at the [[Teatro alla Scala]] in Milan, as Puccini's ''[[Manon Lescaut (Puccini)|Manon Lescaut]]'', conducted by [[Georges Prêtre]], a performance that was televised live across Europe. |
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In Budapest, Sass sang roles such as [[Freia]] in ''[[Das Rheingold]]'', [[Violetta Valéry]] in ''[[La traviata]]'', and Mimì in ''[[La bohème]]''. In 1976, Sass made her London debut when the Hungarian production of [[Giuseppe Verdi]]'s ''[[I Lombardi alla prima crociata]]'' was presented at [[Covent Garden]]. The success of the engagement encouraged [[Decca Records]] to sign her to a contract. In 1976, the soprano also was seen at the Aix-en-Provence Festival, in ''La traviata''. |
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Her repertory also included; Donna Anna in ''[[Don Giovanni]]'', Fiordiligi in ''[[Cosi fan tutte]]'', Mimi in ''[[La bohème]]'', Judith in [[Bela Bartok]]'s [[Bluebeard's Castle]], etc, but she was particularly admired in early Verdi operas, especially as [[Macbeth (opera)|Lady Macbeth]]. |
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In 1977, Sass made her Italian debut in [[Turin]] as Verdi's [[Lady Macbeth]] (in ''[[Macbeth (opera)|Macbeth]]''), and that same year made her [[Metropolitan Opera]] debut in [[Giacomo Puccini]]'s ''[[Tosca]]'', opposite [[José Carreras]] and [[Ingvar Wixell]]. In 1978, she was first seen at the [[Teatro alla Scala]], with [[Plácido Domingo]], in Puccini's ''[[Manon Lescaut]]'', conducted by [[Georges Prêtre]], a performance that was televised live across Europe. |
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| ⚫ | Sass has won many awards, the first in 1972 when she won first prize at the ''Kodály Voice Competition''. In 1973, she won the Grand Prix as Violetta at the ''International Opera Competition for Young Singers''. In 1974, she won the Silver Medal at the [[International Tchaikovsky Competition]], in [[Moscow]]. She was also made an Honored Artist of Hungary, in 1977. |
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By this time, Sass was being heralded as "the new Callas." In fact, she did have the opportunity to meet [[Maria Callas]] once, in Paris, thanks to an introduction made by [[Leonard Bernstein]]. |
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Her exceptional vocal and dramatic talent prompted some to hail her as the second [[Maria Callas]]. However, perhaps as a result of having taken on too much too soon, her voice deteriorated early, and by the end of the 1980's, she had all but vanished from the operatic scene. In recent years, she has settled in France, where she keeps busy painting and giving masterclasses. |
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In 1982, Sass became the first soprano in eighty years to perform [[Alfano]]'s unabridged ending of Puccini's unfinished opera, ''[[Turandot]]'', at the [[London Barbican]]. In 1984, she starred in a revival of [[Franz Schrecker]]'s ''[[Der ferne Klang]]'' in [[Venice]], and performed in the posthumous premiere of [[Malipiero]]'s ''[[Sogno di un tramonto d'autunno]]'' in [[Mantova]], in 1988. But the dramatic coloratura is perhaps best known for her Lady Macbeth, Giselda (''[[I Lombardi]]''), and [[Floria Tosca]] (which she sang in [[New Orleans]], in 1987). |
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Sass has made several recordings of arias, lieder, and complete operas, notably ''[[Bluebeard's Castle]]'' and ''[[Don Giovanni]]'', both conducted by [[Georg Solti]], [[Verdi]]'s ''[[I Lombardi]]'', ''[[Ernani]]'', ''[[Attila]]'', ''[[Macbeth (opera)|Macbeth]]'', ''[[Stiffelio]]'', all conducted by [[Lamberto Gardelli]], as well as [[Cherubini]]'s ''[[Médée]]'', again with Gardelli, [[Richard Strauss]]'s ''[[Four Last Songs]]'' and [[Richard Wagner]]'s ''[[Wesendonck Lieder]]''. |
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| ⚫ | Sass has won many awards, the first in 1972 when she won first prize at the |
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==Sources== |
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She has also starred as Judit in a film version of [[Béla Bartók]]'s ''[[Bluebeard's Castle]]''. Also available on video is a 1983 performance of ''[[Il tabarro]]'', from [[La Scala]]. |
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* [http://www.operissimo.com Operissimo.com] |
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Mme. Sass lives in France, where she both paints and sings. Her first book, ''The Interior Voice'', is to be published in 2007. |
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{{DEFAULTSORT: Sass, Sylvia}} |
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Among her numerous recordings are of ''Bluebeard's Castle'' (conducted by Sir [[Georg Solti]]), [[Verdi]]'s ''[[Stiffelio]]'' with Carreras (conducted by [[Lamberto Gardelli]]), ''[[Don Giovanni]]'' (as Donna Elvira) conducted by Sir Georg, [[Cherubini]]'s ''[[Médée]]'' (in the Italian version), [[Richard Strauss]]'s "Four Last Songs," [[Richard Wagner]]'s ''[[Wesendonck Lieder]]'', and Verdi's ''Macbeth'' with [[Piero Cappuccilli]], ''[[I Lombardi]]'', ''[[Ernani]]'', and ''[[Attila]]''. She has also recorded several recital discs of operatic arias (including the Mad Scene from ''[[Lucia di Lammermoor]]''), as well as Lieder by [[Franz Schubert]] and [[Franz Liszt]]. |
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==References== |
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[[Category:1951 births]] |
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* ''The Metropolitan Opera Encyclopedia'', edited by David Hamilton, Simon and Schuster, 1987. ISBN 0-671-61732-X |
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Revision as of 19:39, 5 July 2008
Sylvia Sass (July 12, 1951) is an acclaimed Hungarian operatic soprano, particularly associated with Verdi roles.
Born in Budapest, Hungary, she studied at Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest with Ferenc Révhegyi. She made her professional debut at the Hungarian State Opera, as Frasquita in Georges Bizet's Carmen, in 1971. The following year, she appeared at the Sofia National Opera, as Violetta in La traviata, and during the 1974-75 season at the Salzburg Festival singing Mozart in concert.
In 1975, she sang at the Scottish Opera, as Desdemona in Verdi's Otello, and in 1976, made her debut at the Royal Opera House in London, in a much acclaimed performance of Giselda in I Lombardi, returning the following season as Violetta. In 1977, she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, as Tosca. She also appeared at the Vienna State Opera, the Munich State Opera, the opera houses of Cologne, Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg, as well as the Paris Opera and the Aix-en-Provence Festival, both as Violetta. In 1978, she made her debut at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, as Puccini's Manon Lescaut, conducted by Georges Prêtre, a performance that was televised live across Europe.
Her repertory also included; Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte, Mimi in La bohème, Judith in Bela Bartok's Bluebeard's Castle, etc, but she was particularly admired in early Verdi operas, especially as Lady Macbeth.
Sass has won many awards, the first in 1972 when she won first prize at the Kodály Voice Competition. In 1973, she won the Grand Prix as Violetta at the International Opera Competition for Young Singers. In 1974, she won the Silver Medal at the International Tchaikovsky Competition, in Moscow. She was also made an Honored Artist of Hungary, in 1977.
Her exceptional vocal and dramatic talent prompted some to hail her as the second Maria Callas. However, perhaps as a result of having taken on too much too soon, her voice deteriorated early, and by the end of the 1980's, she had all but vanished from the operatic scene. In recent years, she has settled in France, where she keeps busy painting and giving masterclasses.
Sass has made several recordings of arias, lieder, and complete operas, notably Bluebeard's Castle and Don Giovanni, both conducted by Georg Solti, Verdi's I Lombardi, Ernani, Attila, Macbeth, Stiffelio, all conducted by Lamberto Gardelli, as well as Cherubini's Médée, again with Gardelli, Richard Strauss's Four Last Songs and Richard Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder.