Description

BÉLA KÖRNYEI (KRUMAU, 18 MAY, 1873 – BUDAPEST, 28 APRIL, 1925)

 

 

 

 

He was born on May 18, 1873, in Krumau, the son of Béla Környei and Mária Amália Dudák. He studied at Elek Solymosi’s acting school.

In 1896, he joined the People’s Theater choir as a bass. By 1898, he was performing in operetta at the Hungarian Theater, and from 1899, he sang baritone roles in Debrecen. From 1901, he was a member of the Buda-Temesvár company, performing at the Buda Theater, and from 1905 at the Király Theater.

In 1908, he signed a contract with the Népszínház–Vígopera, where he sang tenor roles. From 1908 to 1915, he was a member of the National Opera in Budapest. He then joined the Vienna Opera for three years, making his debut there on October 16, 1916, in the premiere of the new production of Richard Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos as Bacchus.

He returned to the National Opera in Budapest, where he remained until his death.

From his first marriage to Paula Galyassy, he had a daughter, Paula Környey (1899–1996), an actress, and a son, Béla Környey (1901–?), a pianist. On October 15, 1914, he married opera singer Elza Szamosi (Erzsébet Szamek) in Budapest, but they divorced in 1921. On October 30, 1921, he married singer Mária Sándor in Terézváros, Budapest.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1896-1899 Debrecen Opera House

1900-1903 Temesvar Opera House

1907 Budapest People’s Opera

1908 Budapest National Opera

1915-1918 Vienna Court Opera

1919 Budapest National Opera

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba 58031 Beka
2. Tosca (Puccini): E lucevan le stelle 58693 Beka
3. Carmen (Bizet): Il fior 58694 Beka
4. Trovatore (Verdi): Di quella pira 58695 Beka
5. Fanciulla del West (Puccini): Ch’ella mi creda 58696 Beka
6. Aida (Verdi): Nel fiera anelito 58981 Beka
7. Hegyek alján (d’Albert): Jöjj velem Első Magyar Hanglemez Gyár 1404
8. Aida (Verdi): Misero appien mi festi 58982 Beka
9. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Un tal gioco 58983 Beka
10. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Compar Alfio 58984 Beka
11. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Addio alla madre 58985 Beka
12. Lohengrin (Wagner): Merce, merce D1394 Diadal
13. Lohengrin (Wagner): S’ei torna alfin D1394 Diadal
14. Walkure (Wagner): Cede il verno 4-102705 Gramophone
15. Carmen (Bizet): Il fior 1405 Premier
16. Ulisses Belepöje Favorite 1-25680
17. Mit er nekem a markisag Favorite 25679
18. Janos vitez Egy rozsa szál Columbia 12808 D3229
19. Cigánybaro Belepö G&T 4-102693
20. Varazskeringo Halkan szall G&T 4-102666