Monyók Ildikó
voice - alto
Place of Birth
Bodrogkeresztúr
Date of Birth
1948
September 24, 1948 (Bodrogkeresztúr) – May 29, 2012 (Budapest)
Ildikó Monyók, a Hungarian actress and singer, was born on September 24, 1948, in Bodrogkeresztúr. In 1968 she placed second in the poetry recitation category of the national television competition Ki mit tud? (Who Knows What?). In 1969 and 1971, she participated in the Dance Song Festival. In 1974, she graduated from the College of Theater and Film Arts with a degree in operetta and musical theater, then signed a contract with the József Katona Theater in Kecskemét, where she performed in both spoken-word and musical plays, as well as in productions for adults and children; she achieved great success, among other roles, as Sally in the musical Cabaret. She remained a member of the theater until 1982.
In April 1982, she was involved in a tragic bus accident. An injury to the left hemisphere of her brain caused her to lose her ability to speak, write and do arithmetic. The accident cut short her artistic career. It took her years to relearn how to speak and walk. In 1986, after a partial recovery, she performed in András Jeles and László Melis’ production The Realm of Smiles.
In order to fully regain her ability to speak, she sang works by György Kurtág, who, upon learning of this, composed a piece specifically for Ildikó Monyók inspired by Samuel Beckett’s poem “What Is the Word?”, which was premiered to great acclaim in Vienna on October 26, 1991, with her participation. The piece was conducted by Claudio Abbado, and was later performed in Hungary, in numerous concert halls across Europe, and even in Japan. Ildikó Monyók remained the piece’s exclusive narrator until 2008. Following her permanent retirement, György Kurtág transferred this exclusive right to Hungarian actress Piroska Molnár.
Ildikó Monyók passed away in Budapest on May 29, 2012, at the age of 64, following a long illness.
Ildikó Monyók, a Hungarian actress and singer, was born on September 24, 1948, in Bodrogkeresztúr. In 1968 she placed second in the poetry recitation category of the national television competition Ki mit tud? (Who Knows What?). In 1969 and 1971, she participated in the Dance Song Festival. In 1974, she graduated from the College of Theater and Film Arts with a degree in operetta and musical theater, then signed a contract with the József Katona Theater in Kecskemét, where she performed in both spoken-word and musical plays, as well as in productions for adults and children; she achieved great success, among other roles, as Sally in the musical Cabaret. She remained a member of the theater until 1982.
In April 1982, she was involved in a tragic bus accident. An injury to the left hemisphere of her brain caused her to lose her ability to speak, write and do arithmetic. The accident cut short her artistic career. It took her years to relearn how to speak and walk. In 1986, after a partial recovery, she performed in András Jeles and László Melis’ production The Realm of Smiles.
In order to fully regain her ability to speak, she sang works by György Kurtág, who, upon learning of this, composed a piece specifically for Ildikó Monyók inspired by Samuel Beckett’s poem “What Is the Word?”, which was premiered to great acclaim in Vienna on October 26, 1991, with her participation. The piece was conducted by Claudio Abbado, and was later performed in Hungary, in numerous concert halls across Europe, and even in Japan. Ildikó Monyók remained the piece’s exclusive narrator until 2008. Following her permanent retirement, György Kurtág transferred this exclusive right to Hungarian actress Piroska Molnár.
Ildikó Monyók passed away in Budapest on May 29, 2012, at the age of 64, following a long illness.
| Year | Title | Publisher | Code | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 |
Kurtág, György - Portraitkonzert - Salzburg, 10. 8. 1993.
(Kurtág György - Portraitkonzert - Salzburg, 1993. augusztus 10.) |
Col Legno | WWE 31870 | 2 CDs |