István Kovácsházi pursued his musical studies under the guidance of voice teacher Margit Kapossy. From 1994 to 1995 he was a soloist at Debrecen's Csokonai Theatre, whereupon he signed with the Budapest Operetta Theatre for the following two years. He has been a soloist at the Hungarian State Opera since 1997, where even at a young age he was singing the lead role in numerous operas, including works by Mozart (The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni, The Abduction from the Seraglio, Così fan tutte) and Verdi and Puccini (La traviata, Rigoletto, La bohème, Tosca and Madama Butterfly). He sang in his first Wagnerian opera in 2006, reaping great acclaim in the role of Walter von Stolzing in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. In 2008 he contracted to sing the same role with the Nationaltheater Mannheim, where he also became a member in 2014. He has appeared in numerous productions in Germany, including those of Wagner (Parsifal, Das Rheingold, Lohengrin, Tannhäuser), Richard Strauss (Ariadne auf Naxos, Elektra), Weber (Der Freischütz), as well as French operas (Bizet's Carmen, Saint-Saëns's Samson and Delila and Offenbach's Tales of Hoffmann). Invited to perform at Adam Fischer's Wagner in Budapest Opera Festival, he enjoyed great success in the title role of Wagner's Lohengrin in 2011 and 2013.
Education and training:
voice teacher Margit Kapossy
Awards and recognitions:
Hungarian Artist of Merit (2022)
Zoltán Závodszky Award (2016)
Chamber Singer of the Hungarian State Opera 2015/2016
Ferenc Liszt Award (2008)
Gusztáv Oláh Award (2005)
György Melis Award (2003)
József Simándy Award (2000)
Professional career:
Hungarian State Opera (1997-)
Nationaltheater Mannheim (2008-2014)
Wagner in Budapest Opera Festival (2011, 2013)
Budapest Operetta Theatre (1995-1997)
Csokonai Theatre, Debrecen (1994-1995)
Principal roles:
Bizet: Carmen – Don José
Saint-Saëns: Samson and Delila – Samson
Offenbach: Tales of Hoffmann – Hoffmann
Puccini: Madama Butterfly – Pinkerton
Puccini: Tosca – Cavaradossi
R. Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos – Tenor, Bacchus
R. Strauss: Elektra – Aegisth
Verdi: Don Carlos – Don Carlos
Verdi: Macbeth – Macduff
Wagner: Lohengrin – Lohengrin
Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg – Walther von Stolzing
Wagner: Parsifal – Parsifal
Wagner: Das Rheingold – Loge
Weber: Der Freischütz – Max
Wagner: Tannhäuser – Tannhäuser
