In the mid sixties Konya came to San Franciso often. Alas he didn't compare well with the other tenors available. In 1965 he sang Cavaradossi but the other tenors were Jess Thomas (local boy) and Franco Corelli both of whom were better.
Other better tenors of the day were Renato Cioni, Robert Ilovfalvy, and Bruno Prevedi. His top was shot when he sang with Verdi with Price. Maybe he was better when young? But when I heard him he was no top 100 singer.
I sang with Konya in The Flying Dutchman in Miami circa 1975. He was absolutely outstanding. I was particularly in awe of the way he managed the turn at the beginning of his first scene with Senta. He had beautiful tone and excellent musicianship. Joe Carbia, Miami, Florida
In his comfort fach, he was fabulous, but the Met pushed him into the heavier Italian spinto roles such as Johnson, Calaf, Radames, which took the bloom off his voice.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
100 GREATEST SINGERS? - You must be joking.
I heard Konya many times live and onstage in Italian and German opera. On a good night and at his very best he could be competent. At his worse: Bad News.
Perhaps you meant 100 GREATEST HUNGARIAN SINGERS BORN IN 1923 (although I am not sure Konya even qualifies for this....)The recording you have chosen is representative: Breathy tone, desperate ACUTI, smothered PASSAGGIO, sobbing in lieu of legato and so it went.
es sind alle einmalig!! Aber fuer mich Bejamino Gigli ,Fritz Wunderlich ,Rene Kollo,Richard Tauber , Josef Schmidt ,Rudolf Schock und Luciano Pavarroti sind die besten.
Yes, a fine and tenor who could sing so many roles but who was almost ruined by Mr. Bing who overworked him the last year the Metropolitan Opera was the old house--I always enjoyed his singing
Not a good example of his excellent artistry. I agree with 'Hjadlowker' that his recordings of Lohengrin and Walther from Meistersinger showcase his talent far better. He was a non-Italian voice with Italian mannerisms. His sobs sometimes resemble Gigli's when he sings in Italian. He was far better in German opera of course.
Mein Gott!! SOOO muß in meiner Vorstellung Operette klingen! Einfach zauberhaft und zum Träumen.Für mich als Operettenfan eine neue Entdeckung...dank Ihnen!!
Konya was Hungarian but sang with the passion and phrasing of an italian tenor my father who was from Hungarian parents loved Konya's Puccini Arias on Decca loved his tone production and fire Sandor was a fine singer . Not univerally recognizable as some
What do I think about choosing Konya! Are you serious? Could he had ever been left out? No significant anthology would be complete without this excelling artist ranking very high in the list. Now, if you ask me, I would have rather chosen his Lohengrin or his Wather.
Yes, a wonderful artist. At the Met distinguished himself as Walther and an unmatched Lohengrin. I also enjoyed his Calaf and Dick Johnson. This was the Met era of Corelli and Tucker in those Italian roles but, i always thought of Konya as more than a "house" singer. He had a unique "dolcezza" to his voice that was quite touching. I always looked forward to hearing him and was never disappointed. Thanks for this posting.
Konya was my first Radames & Walther von Stolzing, & to me was the best of both worlds. He brought a wonderful Italian "dolcezza" to his German roles, & an impressive Teutonic strength to the Italian ones. What a shame he didn't record more, and that when RCA recorded his signature role, the Elsa to his Lohengrin was the Met's perpetual "cover" artist, who was indeed replacing Leontyne Price.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Whether he was a great singer or not, Kónya had a really fine voice and was superb in the more lyrical Wagner and in Puccini.
Besides the Walther under Kubelik, he recorded a bel canto Lohengrin with Leinsdorf—the best sung Knight of the Swan since Franz Völker—who belongs himself in this group.
He was a great singer. I may advice a rare but beautiful recording of Meistersinger von Nürenberg under Kubelik, wher he sings really beautifull and lyrical.
I admit I didn't hear Konya often, but what I heard I did not like so much (perhaps these occasions were off-days for him). Personally, I would not have included him on the list.
I am so glad you included Konya who is all but forgotten today. He was for many years a house singer in new york. i saw him as an unforgettable Lohengrin and Parsifal, as well as Walther, Dick Johnson, Riccardo, Calaf, Rodolfo, Cavaradossi, Rhadames, and the Italian tenor.
What a wonderfall voice! For me he was and is the best Lohengrin.
SchallundWahn 2 months ago
In the mid sixties Konya came to San Franciso often. Alas he didn't compare well with the other tenors available. In 1965 he sang Cavaradossi but the other tenors were Jess Thomas (local boy) and Franco Corelli both of whom were better.
Other better tenors of the day were Renato Cioni, Robert Ilovfalvy, and Bruno Prevedi. His top was shot when he sang with Verdi with Price. Maybe he was better when young? But when I heard him he was no top 100 singer.
Agorante 6 months ago
@Agorante -That must have been after his demise. He was easily one of the all time greats.
paulostroff99 5 months ago
Er hatte eine wunderschöne Stimme. Sie klang in diesem Lied sehr erotisch.
christelfriemuth 7 months ago
Superb...
ian1856 9 months ago
03:21 thats a cool harmonic change :))
umkalzum 9 months ago
I sang with Konya in The Flying Dutchman in Miami circa 1975. He was absolutely outstanding. I was particularly in awe of the way he managed the turn at the beginning of his first scene with Senta. He had beautiful tone and excellent musicianship. Joe Carbia, Miami, Florida
1Victorinus 1 year ago
In his comfort fach, he was fabulous, but the Met pushed him into the heavier Italian spinto roles such as Johnson, Calaf, Radames, which took the bloom off his voice.
DonPaolissimo 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
100 GREATEST SINGERS? - You must be joking.
I heard Konya many times live and onstage in Italian and German opera. On a good night and at his very best he could be competent. At his worse: Bad News.
Perhaps you meant 100 GREATEST HUNGARIAN SINGERS BORN IN 1923 (although I am not sure Konya even qualifies for this....)The recording you have chosen is representative: Breathy tone, desperate ACUTI, smothered PASSAGGIO, sobbing in lieu of legato and so it went.
TheCraigMann 1 year ago
I'm amazed hearing things like this. I knew him for many years only as Lohengrin!
waustad 2 years ago
Just WONDERFULL.
emeric1952 2 years ago
es sind alle einmalig!! Aber fuer mich Bejamino Gigli ,Fritz Wunderlich ,Rene Kollo,Richard Tauber , Josef Schmidt ,Rudolf Schock und Luciano Pavarroti sind die besten.
schwanz0000 2 years ago
Yes, a fine and tenor who could sing so many roles but who was almost ruined by Mr. Bing who overworked him the last year the Metropolitan Opera was the old house--I always enjoyed his singing
Bonacrik 2 years ago
Not a good example of his excellent artistry. I agree with 'Hjadlowker' that his recordings of Lohengrin and Walther from Meistersinger showcase his talent far better. He was a non-Italian voice with Italian mannerisms. His sobs sometimes resemble Gigli's when he sings in Italian. He was far better in German opera of course.
GermanOperaSinger 2 years ago 2
Comment removed
lpvcrcd 2 years ago
Mein Gott!! SOOO muß in meiner Vorstellung Operette klingen! Einfach zauberhaft und zum Träumen.Für mich als Operettenfan eine neue Entdeckung...dank Ihnen!!
(*träumengeh*)
herzlybchen 2 years ago 3
If Wunderlich had had an older brother, he would have sounded like this wonderful artist.
gmath09 2 years ago 10
Konya was Hungarian but sang with the passion and phrasing of an italian tenor my father who was from Hungarian parents loved Konya's Puccini Arias on Decca loved his tone production and fire Sandor was a fine singer . Not univerally recognizable as some
lpvcrcd 3 years ago
What do I think about choosing Konya! Are you serious? Could he had ever been left out? No significant anthology would be complete without this excelling artist ranking very high in the list. Now, if you ask me, I would have rather chosen his Lohengrin or his Wather.
Hjadlowker 3 years ago 11
Yes, a wonderful artist. At the Met distinguished himself as Walther and an unmatched Lohengrin. I also enjoyed his Calaf and Dick Johnson. This was the Met era of Corelli and Tucker in those Italian roles but, i always thought of Konya as more than a "house" singer. He had a unique "dolcezza" to his voice that was quite touching. I always looked forward to hearing him and was never disappointed. Thanks for this posting.
organdude44 3 years ago 4
Another great discovery thanks to your project!
The timbre of his voice is eerily similar to Wunderlich's.....
KissaMyEyes 3 years ago
Yeah, I hear that too. Not as full or as warm, though...
Chiliarches 2 years ago
Ich finde, vom Timbre ist Konya eine Mischung aus Wunderlich und dem heißgeliebten Anton Dermota (mag auch am Akzent liegen).
vully70 2 years ago
Konya was my first Radames & Walther von Stolzing, & to me was the best of both worlds. He brought a wonderful Italian "dolcezza" to his German roles, & an impressive Teutonic strength to the Italian ones. What a shame he didn't record more, and that when RCA recorded his signature role, the Elsa to his Lohengrin was the Met's perpetual "cover" artist, who was indeed replacing Leontyne Price.
bobzeschin 3 years ago 2
absolut
bullogh 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Whether he was a great singer or not, Kónya had a really fine voice and was superb in the more lyrical Wagner and in Puccini.
Besides the Walther under Kubelik, he recorded a bel canto Lohengrin with Leinsdorf—the best sung Knight of the Swan since Franz Völker—who belongs himself in this group.
AulicExclusiva 3 years ago
He was a great singer. I may advice a rare but beautiful recording of Meistersinger von Nürenberg under Kubelik, wher he sings really beautifull and lyrical.
Dondinin 3 years ago 4
I admit I didn't hear Konya often, but what I heard I did not like so much (perhaps these occasions were off-days for him). Personally, I would not have included him on the list.
meltzerboy 3 years ago
I am so glad you included Konya who is all but forgotten today. He was for many years a house singer in new york. i saw him as an unforgettable Lohengrin and Parsifal, as well as Walther, Dick Johnson, Riccardo, Calaf, Rodolfo, Cavaradossi, Rhadames, and the Italian tenor.
BitOfKid 3 years ago