The Hungarian-born Maria von Ilosvay (b. 1913) first studied at the Conservatory in her native Budapest and then at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna. After winning first prize in an international vocal competition in Vienna, she toured the United States as a member of the Salzburg Opera Guild during the years 1937-39 under the name Esther von Ilosvay. In 1940 she joined the Hamburg Staatsoper. After 1946 she sang regularly in Vienna, Munich, London, Stuttgart, Milan and Holland. Her Bayreuth Festival début was in 1951 and she later appeared with the Hamburg Staatsoper at the Edinburgh Festival in 1955. Her voice possessed a dark glowing quality and the richness of her tone was admired in both the concert hall and opera house. She recorded for both Columbia and Philips.
