Sári Barabás facts for kids

Sári Barabás (born March 14, 1914 – died April 16, 2012) was a famous opera singer from Hungary. She was known for her beautiful voice. She could sing very high and fast notes. This special way of singing is called coloratura.

Her Life and Career

Sári Barabás was born in a city called Budapest in Hungary. When she was young, she wanted to be a dancer. But she got an injury, so she decided to try singing instead. She took singing lessons in Budapest.

Her first big performance was in 1939. She sang at the Budapest Opera. She played the role of Gilda in an opera called Rigoletto.

World War II happened, which paused her singing career for a while. After the war, she started performing again. She sang in operas in places like Zurich and Vienna. In 1949, she joined the Munich State Opera. She stayed there until 1971.

Famous Performances

Sári Barabás was a guest singer at many famous opera houses. She sang at the Vienna State Opera. People loved her clear voice and exciting performances.

In 1951, she sang in London at the Royal Opera House. She also performed at the Glyndebourne Festival. There, she sang important roles like Konstanze in Die Entführung aus dem Serail. She also played Adele in Le comte Ory and Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos. Everyone praised her performances.

In 1950, Sári made her first appearance in America. She sang at the San Francisco Opera. She played the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute. This is a very challenging role.

Besides opera, she also sang in operetta shows. These are like lighter, more fun operas. In 1970, she had a big success in London. She was in a musical called The Great Waltz. Around that time, she was also featured on a popular radio show called Desert Island Discs.

Later Years

Sári Barabás also appeared in a German film in 1951. It was called Die Dubarry. Later, in 1955, she sang for an actress in the musical film Oh... Rosalinda!!.

Her very last time on stage was in 2007. She was 93 years old! She had a speaking role in a show called Die Csárdásfürstin.

Personal Life

In 1956, Sári Barabás married another singer. His name was Franz Klarwein. He was a tenor, which means he sang high male parts. They were married until he passed away in 1991.

Sári Barabás died on April 16, 2012. She was 98 years old.