Artist database

This is the Artist Database of BMC, which includes information about composers, musicians, orchestras, choirs and groups that are either Hungarian or Hungarian by origin or live in Hungary, as well as information about releases recorded with them.

Réthy Eszter


voice, voice - soprano

Place of Birth
Budapest
Date of Birth
1912

 
22nd October, 1912, Budapest - 28th January, Wien

Esther Réthy studied singing in Vienna and Budapest, where she was born. She made her début at the Budapest Opera in 1934 as Micaele in Carmen. In 1937 she was engaged by the Vienna Staatsoper and remained a member of the company until 1949. She scored great successes at the 1937, 1938 and 1939 Salzburg Festivals as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro and Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier. During these years she often appeared also in Budapest. Miss Réthy received a contract from the New York Met for the 1940 season, but the outbreak of the war prevented her going there. After 1949 she principally sang at the Vienna Volksoper, and also gained high recognition as an operetta prima donna. Several recordings of her were conducted by Franz Lehár.