Mihály Kálmándy started playing piano at age six, later taking up classical guitar along with other instruments. He then graduated from the Gh. Dima Music Academy in Cluj-Napoca, where he made his debut in the title role of Verdi's Nabucco, a part that has accompanied him throughout his career. His international career started with a production of the same work at Trieste's Teatro Verdi, which brought him numerous engagements around the world. Among other cities, Kálmándy has appeared in Rome, Naples, Vienna, Stockholm, London, and Warsaw, and has also thrilled audiences as far away as Seoul and New Zealand, while simultaneously continuously singing the great baritone roles at the Hungarian State Opera. He has worked with such superb conductors as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Pier Giorgio Morandi, Kent Nagano and Pinchas Steinberg, and his dramatic partners on stage have included the likes of Éva Marton, Edita Gruberova, Ildikó Komlósi, Erika Miklósa, Placido Domingo and José Cura. Awarded the title of Chamber Singer of the Hungarian State Opera in the 2013/14 season. He was also elected a member of the Company of Immortals in 2015.
Education:
Gh. Dima Music Academy, Cluj-Napoca
Awards and recognitions:
Kossuth Prize (2019)
Zoltán Závodszky Award (2018)
Eternal Member of the Company of Immortals (2015)
Chamber Singer of the Hungarian State Opera (2013/2014)
György Melis Award (2002)
Bartók-Pásztory Award (1992)
Artistic career:
Teatro Verdi, Trieste
Teatro dell’Opera, Rome
Teatro di San Carlo, Naples
Teatro Massimo Bellini, Catania
Musikverein, Vienna
Tonhalle, Zürich
Salzburger Landestheater
Alte Oper, Frankfurt
Hessisches Staatstheater, Wiesbaden
Badisches Staatstheater, Karlsruhe
Aalto Opera, Essen
Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm
Göteborg Opera
Minnesota Orchestra Hall
Barbican Center, London
Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm
Minnesota Orchestra Hall
Theatre Royal, Glasgow
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
Free Trade Hall, Manchester
Grand Théâtre, Bordeaux
Valencia Opera
Teatr Wielki, Warsaw
Mikhailovsky Theatre, St. Petersburg
Státní Opera, Prague
Perth Concert Hall
Savonlinna Opera Festival
Sala São Paulo
New Zealand Opera, Wellington
Beijing Opera House
Seoul Opera House
Principal roles:
Verdi: Nabucco – Nabucco
Verdi: Macbeth – Macbeth
Verdi: Rigoletto – Rigoletto
Verdi: Don Carlos – Marquis of Posa
Verdi: Aida – Amonasro
Verdi: Un ballo in maschera – Renato
Verdi: Il trovatore – Count Luna
Puccini: Edgar – Frank
Respighi: La fiamma – Basilio
Massenet: Le jongleur de Notre Dame – Boniface
Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer – The Dutchman
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde – Kurwenal
Bartók: Bluebeard's Castle – Bluebeard
