Contemplating the life of a belcanto tenor? Here stands the Réti József Plaque. It commemorates a remarkable Hungarian opera singer. Réti József was born in 1925 and died in 1973. His death coincided with the plaque’s unveiling on November 5.
The Réti József Plaque honors a Liszt Ferenc Prize winner. He was a Meritorious Artist and a professor. Réti was also a lifetime member of the Opera House. He became known as a belcanto tenor of the 20th century.
In the 1960s and 70s Réti József gave many concerts abroad. He gained international recognition as an opera singer. The Réti József Plaque features a relief. It is based on the last photograph of him.
József Réti was born in Ploiești Romania. His father was an oil engineer. The family moved to Hungary in 1939. Réti’s interest in music sparked at the Csurgó Reformed Gymnasium.
In 1942 his family moved to Budapest. He continued his studies there. Réti began his singing career with the Honvéd Art Ensemble. He changed his name from Rédl to Réti in 1949. Kodály Zoltán’s folk song cycle inspired the name.
Réti graduated from the Academy of Music in 1953. That same year he debuted at the Opera House. He played Parpignol in Puccini’s Bohème. He remained a leading soloist there until his death.
Réti excelled as a Mozart tenor. He sang almost every Mozart role. These included Tamino Don Ottavio and Ferrando. He also sang Belmonte.
In 1956 Réti won an award in Berlin. In 1957 he won the gold medal at the Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow. Tito Schipa an Italian tenor led the jury. This success led to his first leading role. He played Almaviva in Rossini’s Barber of Seville. Critics celebrated his brilliant debut.
Besides Almaviva Réti also performed Ferrando. He also sang the title role in Rossini’s Count Ory. One of his greatest achievements was Tonio. This was in Donizetti’s Daughter of the Regiment.
Réti sang Tonio’s aria with its eight high Cs. It is one of opera’s most difficult arias. Réti sang these high notes with ease. He had a powerful clear voice.
Réti showed his dramatic talent as Des Grieux. This was in Puccini’s Manon Lescaut. He also sang the Italian Aria. This was from Richard Strauss’s The Knight of the Rose. He used comic expressions and gestures.
Lyonel in Flotow’s Martha was another favorite role. So was Rodolphe in Puccini’s Bohème. He also performed Nemorino and Peppe. Réti recorded Massenet’s Ossian song.
From 1964 Réti taught at the Academy of Music. He succeeded Endre Rösler. He trained many famous artists.
Réti often sang oratorios. His style and technique made him a sought-after soloist. He gave unforgettable performances as the Evangelist. This was in Bach’s Passions.
Réti was also a legendary interpreter. He sang the tenor solo in Bartók’s Cantata Profana. Contemporary composers wrote oratorios for him. These included Petrovics Emil and Vass Lajos.
Réti also took on operetta roles. He sang Ahmed’s Aria. Also the Neapolitan Song.
Renata Scotto was Réti’s partner in Lucia. He often performed with Hungarian stars. These included Gyurkovics Mária and Házy Erzsébet.
In his last years Réti performed as a singer of songs. He often performed abroad. He made many recordings. He learned roles quickly. His German and Italian were perfect.
His clear diction and flexible high register were remarkable. His voice compensated for his physique. He was not always ideal for heroic roles. In comic roles he captivated audiences. He brought sparkling good humor.
Réti’s outspoken nature made him unpopular. He was nominated for the Kossuth Prize three times. But he never received it.
After Réti’s death Rónay György wrote a poem. The poem mourned the singer. In the film My Left Foot Réti sings Mozart.
Monique Montagne made a film about Réti. She also wrote about his recordings. This brought international attention.
In 2023 Réti received the Hungarian Heritage Award. Szilveszter Ókovács praised Réti’s unique tenor voice.
The Réti József Plaque stands as a testament. It honors his enduring legacy. A legacy of musical excellence.