Happy Birthday: Sylvia Geszty

"No che non sei capace" K. 419 (Mozart)

The soprano was born Sylvia Maria Ilona Wytkowsky on born February 28, 1934, in Budapest, Hungary. Originally wanting to be a dancer or actress, but decided to take voice lessons and attempt a career in opera. She studied at the Franz Liszt Musikakademie in Budapest with Erzsébeth Hoor-tempi. She won several competitions, including the Robert Schumann singing competition in Berlin. In 1959 she made her debut at the Budapest National Opera and immediately was engaged as a soloist with the Hungarian Philharmonic Orchestra. Two years later, she was singing the role of Amor in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice at the Berlin Staatsoper. Soon she was dubbed by the public the "Prima Donna unter den Linden." In 1966 she sang the Queen of the

The Hungarian soprano today.

Night at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in London and repeated the role a year later at the Salzburg Festival. She was also singing a the Komische Oper in Berlin as well. By 1967 she was one of the most acclaimed coloraturas in Germany singing the coloratura roles in Die Zauberflöte, Lucia di Lammermoor, Rigoletto , Alcina, Les Contes d'Hoffmann and La Traviata. Meanwhile, she continued to study with Dagmar Freiwald-Lange. She had success with many concerts and recitals, especially in Munich and Salzburg. In 1970, the singer moved to West Germany and became a permanent member of the Staatsoper Stuttgart. One of her most celebrated roles was Rosina in Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia. She