Marta Eggerth

Marta Eggerth (April 17, 1912 – December 26, 2013) was a Hungarian-American actress and singer from "The Silver Age of Operetta". Many of the 20th century's most famous operetta composers, including Franz Lehár, Fritz Kreisler, Robert Stolz, Oscar Straus, and Paul Abraham, composed works especially for her.

Early life Márta Eggerth was born in Budapest, the daughter of Tilly (née Herzog, or Herzegh), a dramatic coloratura soprano, and Paul Eggerth, a bank director. Eggerth began singing during her early childhood. Her mother dedicated herself to her daughter, who was called a "Wunderkind" at the age of 11 making her theatrical debut in the operetta Mannequins. It was during this time and the years that followed that Eggerth began singing the most demanding coloratura repertoire by composers including Rossini, Meyerbeer, Offenbach and Johann Strauss II.

While still a teenager, Eggerth embarked on a tour of Denmark, Holland and Sweden before arriving in Vienna at the invitation of Emmerich Kálmán. Kálmán invited her to Vienna to understudy Adele Kern, the famous coloratura of the Vienna State Opera, in his operetta Das Veilchen vom Montmartre (The Violet of Montmartre). Eggerth eventually took over the title role to great critical acclaim after Kern suddenly became indisposed.

In 2003, Patria Music released a retrospective double CD of her songs entitled My Life My Song.

Personal life Eggerth was married to the Polish tenor Jan Kiepura.

Death Eggerth died on December 26, 2013 in Rye, New York. She was 101 years old.

Films

Csak egy kislány van a világon (1930) Die Bräutigamswitwe (Let's Love and Laugh, 1931) (1931) The Daredevil (1931) A Night at the Grand Hotel (1931) Modern Dowry (1932) Where Is This Lady? (1932) The Ladies Diplomat (1932) (1932) Once There Was a Waltz (1932) Traum von Schönbrunn (1932) The Blue of Heaven (1932) The Emperor's Waltz (1933) The Flower of Hawaii (1933) The Tsarevich (1933) Gently My Songs Entreat (1933) My Heart Calls You (1934) The Csardas Princess (1934) Unfinished Symphony (Leise flehen meine Lieder, 1934) Mon cœur t'appelle (1934) (1934) The Divine Spark (1935) The Blonde Carmen (1935) My Heart Is Calling (1935) Casta diva (1935) The World's in Love (1935) La Chanson du souvenir (1936) The Castle in Flanders (1936) Where the Lark Sings (1936) The Court Concert (1936) The Charm of La Boheme (1937) Immer wenn ich glücklich bin..! (1938) For Me and My Gal (1942) Presenting Lily Mars (1943) Addio Mimí! (1947) Brilliant Waltz (1949) The Land of Smiles (1952) Spring in Berlin (1957)