Sarolta Péczely

Sarolta Péczely Kodály (born 5 November 1940) is a Hungarian singer and associate professor. She was the second wife of composer Zoltán Kodály from 1959 until his death in 1967.

Biography Sarolta Péczely was born in Dombóvár on 5 November 1940. Her father, László Péczely, was a literary scholar and a teacher at the Royal Catholic Esterházy Miklós Nádor High School in Dombóvár.

At the age of five, she won a folk song singing competition in her hometown. This was where she first met Zoltán Kodály, who was staying in Dombóvár between 23 November 1945 and 8 January 1946.

Kodály had lost his first wife, Emma Sándor, on 22 November 1958. After a year of mourning, on 18 December 1959, the 77-year-old composer married Péczely, who was 19 at the time. Kodály died in 1967 at the age of 84. Pro Urbe award (Kecskemét and Budapest) Honorary citizen of Dombóvár (2018) Knight of Hungarian Culture (2016) Middle Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit (2013)