Sári Fedák
Encyclopedia
Sári Fedák was a Hungarian
actress and singer, one of the most well-known prima donna
s of her time. According to American journalist and non-fiction writer Richard Traubner
, Fedák and Sári Petráss
remain "the two best-remembered Hungarian female operetta
stars of all time".
), and in several theatres in Budapest, including Népszínház, Király Színház, and Vígszínház.
Following World War I
, she spoke out against the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Later, during the era of the Hungarian Soviet Republic she agitated for joining the Red Army. After the fall of the Republic, Fedák fled to Vienna
, but was captured and held in prison at Wiener Neustadt
for a short time. As she supported the Republic, she could play in only Vienna from 1920-21. She made appearances in Berlin
and Paris
in 1921 and 1925. In 1934, she toured several American cities.
In 1922 she married writer Ferenc Molnár
, after a six year relationship. The couple divorced in 1925 or 1926, after "he had accused her of intimacy with 42 gentlemen, and she had replied in kind with a list of 142 ladies". In 1923, she became a member of the Fővárosi Operettszínház theatre. Starting in 1940, she was the leading actress in the Új Magyar Színház theatre.
In 1944, working at the Donausender radio station in Vienna, she rallied for Hungary to continue the fight in World War II
on the side of Nazi Germany
. For this act, she was sentenced to eight months in prison after the war, and she was banned from playing in theatres for three years. The court order broke her career: she never appeared on stage again. After being released from prison, she moved to Nyáregyháza
, retiring from active life.
Fedák died in 1955, aged 75, and was interred in Budapest
's Farkasreti Cemetery.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
actress and singer, one of the most well-known prima donna
Prima donna
Originally used in opera or Commedia dell'arte companies, "prima donna" is Italian for "first lady." The term was used to designate the leading female singer in the opera company, the person to whom the prime roles would be given. The prima donna was normally, but not necessarily, a soprano...
s of her time. According to American journalist and non-fiction writer Richard Traubner
Richard Traubner
Richard Traubner is an American journalist, author, operetta scholar and historian, and lecturer on theatre and film. His book on the history of operetta was first published in 1983 and won the 17th annual ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award. Traubner is a frequent contributor to Opera News, The New York...
, Fedák and Sári Petráss
Sári Petráss
Sári Petráss was a Hungarian operetta actress and singer. In the 1910s and 1920s she played leading soprano parts in Budapest, Vienna, London and on Broadway...
remain "the two best-remembered Hungarian female operetta
Operetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
stars of all time".
Life
She studied acting with Szidi Rákosi until 1899, beginning her career the same year with the Magyar Színház theatre company. Beginning in 1900 she played in Pozsony (now BratislavaBratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
), and in several theatres in Budapest, including Népszínház, Király Színház, and Vígszínház.
Following World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, she spoke out against the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Later, during the era of the Hungarian Soviet Republic she agitated for joining the Red Army. After the fall of the Republic, Fedák fled to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, but was captured and held in prison at Wiener Neustadt
Wiener Neustadt
-Main sights:* The Late-Romanesque Dom, consecrated in 1279 and cathedral from 1469 to 1785. The choir and transept, in Gothic style, are from the 14th century. In the late 15th century 12 statues of the Apostles were added in the apse, while the bust of Cardinal Melchior Klesl is attributed to...
for a short time. As she supported the Republic, she could play in only Vienna from 1920-21. She made appearances in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1921 and 1925. In 1934, she toured several American cities.
In 1922 she married writer Ferenc Molnár
Ferenc Molnár
LanguageFerenc Molnár was a Hungarian dramatist and novelist. His Americanized name was Franz Molnar...
, after a six year relationship. The couple divorced in 1925 or 1926, after "he had accused her of intimacy with 42 gentlemen, and she had replied in kind with a list of 142 ladies". In 1923, she became a member of the Fővárosi Operettszínház theatre. Starting in 1940, she was the leading actress in the Új Magyar Színház theatre.
In 1944, working at the Donausender radio station in Vienna, she rallied for Hungary to continue the fight in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on the side of Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. For this act, she was sentenced to eight months in prison after the war, and she was banned from playing in theatres for three years. The court order broke her career: she never appeared on stage again. After being released from prison, she moved to Nyáregyháza
Nyáregyháza
- References :...
, retiring from active life.
Fedák died in 1955, aged 75, and was interred in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
's Farkasreti Cemetery.
Sources
- http://mek.niif.hu/02100/02139/html/sz07/88.html - Sári Fedák in the Hungarian Theatrical Lexicon (György, Székely. Magyar Színházművészeti Lexikon. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1994; ISBN 9789630566353), freely available on mek.oszk.hu (in Hungarian)
- Tibor, Bános . Aki szelet vet. Budapest:Magvető 1986.
- Traubner, RichardRichard TraubnerRichard Traubner is an American journalist, author, operetta scholar and historian, and lecturer on theatre and film. His book on the history of operetta was first published in 1983 and won the 17th annual ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award. Traubner is a frequent contributor to Opera News, The New York...
(2003). Operetta: a theatrical history. Routledge; ISBN 0415966418.