Balos, Anna, 1910-2001

Anna Balos was a dramatic soprano, who performed throughout Europe and in the United States. Balos was born in Poland in 1910, and immigrated to the U.S. with her family at the age of ten. The family lived for a short time in New York, but then moved to Denver, where Balos cultivated an early love for the piano and singing. Her talent earned her a scholarship to attend the Institute of Musical Art, later known as the Juilliard School. Balos' first major role was that of Aida on Feb. 18, 1939 at the Hippodrome Theatre, NYC. After World War II, she went to Italy, and became understudy to Kirsten Flagstad at La Scala. It was there that she had her debut as Kundry in Wagner's Parsifal on Mar. 26, 1948. She lived and sang in Italy and Germany until 1957, when she was forced to return to the United States because of an eye injury. Back in New York, she maintained a schedule of recitals and concerts, with reviewed concerts given at Town Hall on Apr. 6, 1962, and at Judson Hall on Nov. 23, 1962. Ms. Balos continued to sing and give voice and piano lessons until her death on Apr. 15, 2001.