Varady, Julia (1941–)

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Varady, Julia (1941–)

Romanian operatic soprano. Born Sept 1, 1941, in Oradea, Romania; studied in Bucharest with Florescu; married Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (an opera singer), in 1977.

Made debut with opera company of Cluj (1962), remaining there until 1972; appeared in Cologne and Munich, Germany; 1st sang at the Metropolitan Opera in NY (1977) as Donna Elvira in Mozart's Don Giovanni and also appeared at La Scala in Milan (1984); as a performer and singer, was noted for her warmth and intensity, which is well-suited to the Mozart, Verdi, and Puccini roles she plays; also noted as Judith in Béla Bartók's Duke Bluebeard's Castle.