Background
Nagy, Robert David was born on March 3, 1929 in Lorain, Ohio, United States. Son of John Robert and Helen Elizabeth (Polesko) Nagy.
Nagy, Robert David was born on March 3, 1929 in Lorain, Ohio, United States. Son of John Robert and Helen Elizabeth (Polesko) Nagy.
Student, Cleveland Institute Music, 1952-1955.
He mostly portrayed comprimario roles at the Met where his most memorable early role was the Messenger in Aida. A role he sang 172 times for the company. He notably sang in the world premieres of two operas by Samuel Barber at the Met: Vanessa (1958) and Antony and Cleopatra (1966).
He also sang in the company premieres of Die Frau ohne Schatten (1966), Billy Budd (1978) and L"enfant et les sortilèges (1981).
Although Nagy specialized in supporting roles, he also portrayed several leading parts at the Met, among them Florestan in Fidelio, Herodes in Salome, and the Drum Major in Wozzeck". He remained on the Met roster through the end of the 1987-1988 season, performing 1,187 performances with the Met during his thirty years with the company.
Nagy also appeared with the New York City Opera, from 1969 to 1976. His debut was as Luigi in Il tabarro, and possibly his most notable role there was Faust in the new production, directed by Tito Capobianco, of Mefistofele, starring Norman Treigle in the name part, in 1969.
Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos (Watson, Sills.
Leinsdorf, 1969) VAI
Strauss: Elektra (Nilsson, McIntyre. Levine, Graf, 1980) Directorate General.
Served with United States Army, 1950-1952, Korea.
Married Vincenza Rose Ianni, May 1, 1954. Children– Robert John, Helena Jean, Gina Kati.