Prof. Dr. Temesi Mária
Opera singer, Opera Ambassador & Head of Vocal Faculty
1992
Bartók-Pásztory Award
1995
Mihály Székely
Plaque
2013
’György Melis’ Award
„for beautiful Hungarian language cultivation”
2000
Franz Liszt Award
„for exceptional achievements in Wagner leading roles”
2003
Artisjus Award
„for excellent role playing in contemporary Hungarian operas”
2010
Jubilee Medallion for
„Outstanding Teaching and Artistic Achievement”
Opera singer, opera ambassador and master teacher of the Hungarian State Opera, university professor and head of voice department at University of Szeged Faculty of Music. Founder and competition director of the ’József Simándy’ International Singing Competition.
Graduated as singing and piano teacher in her hometown, Szeged. In 1981 received Master’s degree with honour from ’Franz Liszt’ University of Music in Budapest as an opera singer. Debuted as Elsa in Lohengrin by Wagner in the Hungarian State Opera in 1981. Production was conducted by Giuseppe Patané and following critique was published:
“… is a sensation! Her beautiful voice, her sophisticated singing, her self-confident, yet feminine essence raise her the ideal designer of this great role. Ms. Temesi never abused the vast penetration of her voice, so she also preserved the beautiful singing in the Wagnerian starring. She is an extraordinary promise – or already more than that.” (1982)
In the very same year her international career also started in Dresden, Berlin, Milano, New York and Nice, and appeared in leading opera and concert stages all over the world (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, England, Ireland, Scotland, Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Turkey, USA, Egypt, Brazil, Uruguay, China). Winner of two major singing competition:
Singing Competition Rio de Janeiro 1981 (under name of Mária Tóth) and Pavarotti Singing Competition Philadelphia 1985. Through her successful operatic career, she sang several major roles in the Hungarian State Opera and opera houses all over the world.
Her international carreer:
USA
Philadelphiai Operaház, New Yorki Televízió
South-America
Teatro Solis Montevideo
Europe
Berlini, Hamburgi Staatsoper, Berlini Schausspielhaus, Berlini Komisce Oper, Mannheimi,
More
Wiesbadeni, Erfurti, Zürichi, Kölni, Grázi, Bregensi, Toulousei, Nizzai Operaházak, Nizza – Akropolis Művészeti Palota, Drezdai Semperoper, Madridi Teatro de la Zarzuela, Strassbourgi, Birginghami és Szlovák Filharmónia (Bratislava) Koncertterme, Zágrábi Lisinsky Terem, Milánói Verdi Terem, RAI (Olasz Rádió-Radiotelevisione Italia), Londoni Concerthall, Liverpooli Empire Theater, Prágai Állami Operaház, Szófiai Művészeti Palota, Lisszaboni Gulbenkian Alapítvány Koncertterme, Stuttgart Liederhalle, Hamburgi Musiksaal, Bréma – Die Glocke, a Halle és Rostocki Filharmónia szólistájaként, Athén – Herodes Atticus Amphiteatrum, Teatro Farnese Parma
Asia
Istambul, Ankara Operaházai, Ephesui Amphiteatrum
Afrika
Kairói Zeneakadémia Koncertterme, legutóbb (2008. május): óriási sikerű Ünnepi Wagner est világhírű szólistákkal az Új Szlovák Nemzeti Operában, Oliver Dohnányi vezényletével.
Early in her career she sang several Mozart – roles, among them forming Donna Anna and Vitellia are the most outstanding. Afterwards she sang almost all of the leading soprano roles of Verdi, Puccini and Wagner, Mascagni, Cilèa, Tchaikovsky, Erkel and Richard Strauss giving exceptional dramatic performances in Hungary and abroad. For outstanding interpretation of roles in operas of contemporary composers she was awarded with Bartók-Pásztory and Artisjus Prize. In 2008 at the 25th anniversary of her membership in the Hungarian State Opera House, opera enthusiasts have celebrated her in role of Sieglinde in The Walkür by Wagner and at the 30 th anniversary as Elisabeth in Wagners Tannhäuser. The 35th anniversary of her operatic career was celebrated at the National Theater of Szeged with a great Gala Concert conducted by renowned Hungarian conductor Tamás Pál and recorded by Szeged TV.
On stage Professor Temesi worked with the greatest opera singers, conductors and directors: Peter Schreier, Theo Adam, Fiorenza Cossotto, László Polgár, György Melis, Luciano Pavarotti, Giacomo Aragall, Samuel Ramey, Dmitri Hvorostovsky; Giuseppe Patané, Lovro von Matacic, Sir John Pritchard, Rico Saccani, Ferencsik János, Doráti Antal, Jurij, Szimonow, Lamberto Gardelli, Piergiorgio Morandi, Wolfgang Gönnenwein, Medveczky Ádám, János Kovács, Zoltán Kocsis, Gergely Kesselyák, Balázs Kocsár, Kobayashi Ken Ichiro, Ondrej Lénard, Oliver Dohnanyi, Iván Fischer, Ádám Fischer, Christine Mielitz, Katherina Wagner.
Her opera, oratorio and concert recordings with noted conductors, artists and orchestras often broadcasted by Bartók Radio the Hungarian classical music channel. Her solo aria album Wagner Heroines was released by HUNGAROTON in 2004. Due to her TV and radio appearences her name is well-known by the classical music lover audience. Her name is noted in the Hungarian and International „Who is who?” and in several Hungarian, German and English opera encyclopedias.
Since 1997 as professor and head of voice department at University of Szeged Béla Bartók Faculty of Art she has educated numerous young artists and helped them to achieve high level in their career as opera singers or as teachers. Professor Temesi has received her academic qualifications at Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest: Habilitation in 2001 and DLA degree in 2003.
Since 2013 as master teacher of the Hungarian State Opera she helps the technical and interpretational development of soloists, and singers in the choir as well. Since 2014 the Hungarian State Opera count on her professional knowledge also as opera ambassador. Her scientific and informative lectures about the opera are very popular in Hungary and often followed by local media.
Often invited guest professor at master classes in Europe, in the USA and in China and jury member or chairman in singing competitions in Hungary and abroad. Thanks to her dedicated teaching activity her students regularly appear on national and international opera stages.
In 1998 Professor Temesi has founded the ‘József Simándy’ Singing Competition and she works as artistic and managing director of the competition. In the past 20 years the singing competition has discovered many talented singers and for this achievment became cultural heritage of The Hungarian National Depository in 2018.