LàszlÒ, Magda
LàszlÒ, Magda
LàszlÒ, Magda, Hungarian soprano; b. Maros-vârsârhely, 1919. She studied at the Budapest Academy of Music and with Irene Stowasser. In 1943 she made her operatic debut at the Budapest Opera, where she sang until 1946. She then became well known via her appearances on the Italian Radio. On Dec. 4, 1949, she created the role of the Mother in Dallapiccola’s II Prigionero in a Turin Radio broadcast, and then sang that role in its first stage performance on May 20, 1950, in Florence. Thereafter she sang in various Italian music centers, and also throughout Europe. In 1953 she appeared as Alceste at the Glyndebourne Festival, returning there in 1954 and again in 1962-63. On Dec. 3, 1954, she created the role of Cressida in Walton’s Troilus and Cressida at London’s Covent Garden. She also sang widely as a concert artist. In addition to roles in operas by such contemporary composers as Dallapiccola, Walton, Casella, Malipiero, and Ghedini, she was admired for her portrayals of Handel’s Agrippina, Cherubino, Norma, Senta, Isolde, Busoni’s Turandot, and Berg’s Marie.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire