Sándor Svéd

Sándor Svéd (28 May 1906, Budapest — 9 June 1979), also known as Alexander Sved in the United States, was a Hungarian baritone who had an active international career in operas and concerts from 1928 until his retirement from the stage in 1958. He performed lead roles at several important opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Vienna State Opera, and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. In 1943 he performed the role of Folco in the world premiere of Italo Montemezzi's L'incantesimo. He made several recordings during his career, both on record and on radio; including multiple performances for the Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts.

Life and career Born Sándor Svéd in Budapest, Hungary, Svéd was trained as a violinist at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music. After graduating he pursued vocal training in Milan with baritones Mario Sammarco and Riccardo Stracciari. He later studied singing with Estelle Liebling in New York City.

Svéd made his professional debut at the Hungarian State Opera House in 1928 as the Count di Luna in Giuseppe Verdi's Il trovatore.

In 1943 Svéd performed the role of Folco in the world premiere Italo Montemezzi's L'incantesimo with NBC Symphony Orchestra and soprano Vivian Della Chiesa for a broadcast of the work on NBC Radio. Montemezzi conducted the performance.

In the 1950s Svéd performed in operas in Rome, Paris, and at the Bayreuth Festival. During his career he also toured as a concert singer, and made multiple appearances with the Hungarian State Opera House. At the Teatro Comunale, Florence he performed the roles of Simon Boccanegra and Rossini's Guglielmo Tell. He performed the latter role at the end of his stage career in 1958 at the Vienna Volksoper.

In 1956 Svéd relocated to Stuttgart where he worked as a voice teacher after ceasing performing in the late 1950s.

Svéd died on June 9, 1979, in Budapest, Hungary.