Robert Ilosfalvy- Jozsi's aria from Zigeunerliebe (Lehar)

Robert Ilosfalvy (1927-2009)

The Hungarian tenor Robert Ilosfalvy surely deserves better than the neglect into which his reputation seems to have fallen. A lirico-spinto with a smooth, burnished timbre and ringing high notes, he first came to international attention after the release of a 1967 Qualiton LP of original-language arias. This was followed by an EMI LP of Verdi and Puccini arias, as well as the title role in Roberto Devereux for the famous Beverly Sills recording. That, however, proved to be his only non-Hungarian, major label operatic venture in the recording studio. And despite a long tenure with the Cologne Opera and appearances in Rome, London, Madrid, and San Francisco, Ilosfalvy's career never really took full flight internationally, though of course he remained very popular in his native Hungary.

Here then is an example of Ilosfalvy in his considerable prime. The clip is from Franz Lehar's wonderfully melodic 1910 operetta "Zigeunerliebe" ("Gypsy Love"), about a girl who must choose between the wild gypsy fiddler Jozsi and her rather staid betrothed. Ilosfalvy sings Jozsi's aria 'Weit weg ruft mich die grosse Welt...' (in Hungarian), and gives ample evidence of the talent the world seems to have overlooked. He is accompanied by the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra led by Tamas Breitner.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Robert
• Ilosfalvy
• Hungarian
• tenor
• operetta
• aria
• Zigeunerliebe
• Jozsi
• Franz
• Ferenc
• Lehar

[Coloraturissimo]

I loved him! great tenor! I heard he died on jan.6th. May He rest in peace.

[khankonchak]

That is sad news. :( I liked Ilosfalvy very much and wish that he had attained greater recognition in the United States.

[rodlarocque]

wonderful tenor

[benedeknora]

Kedves Sarolta! Véletlenül jutottam ide, ui. bizonyára én voltam a leghívebb Ilosfalvy-rajongó itt Bp-en. Hogy lehetne hozzájutni, ha nem is mindenhez, de pl. a Végzet hatalma, vagy a Manon Lescaut operákhoz akár CD-n, de a DVD a csillagos ég lenne! Várom válaszod, és ha kéred, elküldöm az Ilosfalvy ravatalát az Operaházban. Köszönettel!

[adam5170]

Felejthetetlen ilosfalvy Robert Sajnos a regi sztarokat

nem fogjak tudni potolni es nekunk ok nagyon hianyoznak

A jo isten nyugasztalja meg ottet.

[twlldinbachdel]

Lovely tenor, I have the Sills Roberto D.and used to borrow the EMI record from a pal, wonderful singing on it. Reading the comments ,I see that there is a cd available. I must buy it. Thanks.

[lajtosa]

@sarolta100 Sárdy János, Szabó Miklós, Kónya SándorNagypál László és még... .

Nem könnyű de nem vészes digitalizálni és feltenni ide. De ennyit az már kér időt.

Szegény Házy Erzsébettel 2 hónappal elmenetele előtt játszottam zkban.T

[sarolta100]

Nekem minden teljes opera, operett és ária lemeze megvan, söt a tv felvételek is, Ő egy csoda volt, feltenném mind ide, de nem értek hozzá:-((((

[sarolta100]

Meggyászoltam , már egy éve elment.....szörnyű.

Ma Kölnben emlékeznek RÁ.

Isten nyugasztalja a legszebb hangú énekest!!!

Kriszina büszke lehet Édesapjára.

[sospello]

Thank you for sharing your memories with those of us who admire his wonderful voice.

[HOTPAPRIKA21]

I agree as well. Do you have any more videos to post? I myself don't have any. More video postings are welcome! Thank you for your effort! Krisztina I.

[HOTPAPRIKA21]

Thanks for the kind comment.

Yes, let's post some more videos!

We'll keep listening to you, Dad!