Janice Harsanyi
Encyclopedia
Janice Harsanyi was a soprano
singer and college professor.
Janice was born in Arlington, Massachusetts
, the daughter of a Presbyterian minister and lived in Hamilton Square, New Jersey
at an early age. Harsanyi married Nicholas Harsanyi, a violist who went to school with Béla Bartók
in Hungary. Nikki founded the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra
in 1979, his wife, Janice, was known as "first lady" of the TSO. Nicholas Harsanyi died in 1987.
In 1958, Harsanyi sang as soloist during the opening ceremonies for the United Nations
. In 1959 she made her Carnegie Hall
debut singing Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust with the Philadelphia Orchestra
.
In 1960, Harsanyi sang on Eugene Ormandy
and Philadelphia Orchestra
's recording of Carl Orff's majestic Carmina Burana
with singer/actor Harve Presnell
. This was released by Columbia/Sony on LP and CD.
In 1964, Harsanyi sang Beethoven at a peace rally in Philadelphia featuring Martin Luther King, Jr.
Harsanyi also sang for Albert Einstein
during a dinner party in Princeton, New Jersey and husband Nikki played chamber music with Einstein. While at Princeton she became the head of the voice department at Westminster Choir College
in the early 1950s.
On February 17, 1969, Janice Harsanyi along with Helen Boatwright, Jenneke Barton and John Ferrante performed the opera Handel's Amadigi with the Princeton Chamber Orchestra under the direction of J. Merrill Knapp
.
She has performed the works of notable composers such as Roger Sessions
, Harold Schiffman, and John Harbison
. She recorded one solo recital LP disc (released circa 1960 on the small Period Records label, SPL 581) titled "Great New Voices of Today, Vol. 1" consisting of French and German songs, with Otto Herz at the piano.
Harsanyi joined the voice faculty of Florida State University
's College of Music
in 1978. While there, Harsanyi became involved with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra
and was a voice coach with the Capitol City Opera Company. She died in Tallahassee, Florida
.
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
singer and college professor.
Janice was born in Arlington, Massachusetts
Arlington, Massachusetts
Arlington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, six miles northwest of Boston. The population was 42,844 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, the daughter of a Presbyterian minister and lived in Hamilton Square, New Jersey
Hamilton Square, New Jersey
Hamilton Square is a census-designated place, colonial village and suburban area in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. Hamilton Square, New Jersey was founded in 1692. The Colonial Village is splendid and grand...
at an early age. Harsanyi married Nicholas Harsanyi, a violist who went to school with Béla Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
in Hungary. Nikki founded the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra
Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra
The Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1979, with Nicholas Harsanyi as director. Harsanyi was a noted violist and a student of Béla Bartók, who later even played chamber music with Albert Einstein at Princeton. After Nicholas Harsanyi's death, the baton was handed on to several guest...
in 1979, his wife, Janice, was known as "first lady" of the TSO. Nicholas Harsanyi died in 1987.
In 1958, Harsanyi sang as soloist during the opening ceremonies for the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. In 1959 she made her Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
debut singing Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust with the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
.
In 1960, Harsanyi sang on Eugene Ormandy
Eugene Ormandy
Eugene Ormandy was a Hungarian-born conductor and violinist.-Early life:Born Jenő Blau in Budapest, Hungary, Ormandy began studying violin at the Royal National Hungarian Academy of Music at the age of five...
and Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
's recording of Carl Orff's majestic Carmina Burana
Carmina Burana (Orff)
Carmina Burana is a scenic cantata composed by Carl Orff in 1935 and 1936. It is based on 24 of the poems found in the medieval collection Carmina Burana...
with singer/actor Harve Presnell
Harve Presnell
Harve Presnell was an American actor and singer. He began his career in the mid 1950s as a classical baritone, singing with orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States...
. This was released by Columbia/Sony on LP and CD.
In 1964, Harsanyi sang Beethoven at a peace rally in Philadelphia featuring Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
Harsanyi also sang for Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
during a dinner party in Princeton, New Jersey and husband Nikki played chamber music with Einstein. While at Princeton she became the head of the voice department at Westminster Choir College
Westminster Choir College
Westminster Choir College is a residential college of music, part of Rider University, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States.Westminster Choir College educates men and women at the undergraduate and graduate levels for musical careers in music education, voice performance, piano...
in the early 1950s.
On February 17, 1969, Janice Harsanyi along with Helen Boatwright, Jenneke Barton and John Ferrante performed the opera Handel's Amadigi with the Princeton Chamber Orchestra under the direction of J. Merrill Knapp
J. Merrill Knapp
John Merrill Knapp was an American musicologist and academic. He was considered an authority on the life and works of George Frideric Handel. Born in New York City, Knapp graduated from the Hotchkiss School before entering Yale University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1936 and was a member...
.
She has performed the works of notable composers such as Roger Sessions
Roger Sessions
Roger Huntington Sessions was an American composer, critic, and teacher of music.-Life:Sessions was born in Brooklyn, New York, to a family that could trace its roots back to the American revolution. His mother, Ruth Huntington Sessions, was a direct descendent of Samuel Huntington, a signer of...
, Harold Schiffman, and John Harbison
John Harbison
John Harris Harbison is an American composer, best known for his operas and large choral works.-Life:...
. She recorded one solo recital LP disc (released circa 1960 on the small Period Records label, SPL 581) titled "Great New Voices of Today, Vol. 1" consisting of French and German songs, with Otto Herz at the piano.
Harsanyi joined the voice faculty of Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
's College of Music
Florida State University College of Music
The Florida State University College of Music, located in Tallahassee, Florida is one of sixteen colleges comprising the university. The college boasts an international reputation as one of the preeminent music institutions in the world...
in 1978. While there, Harsanyi became involved with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra
Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra
The Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1979, with Nicholas Harsanyi as director. Harsanyi was a noted violist and a student of Béla Bartók, who later even played chamber music with Albert Einstein at Princeton. After Nicholas Harsanyi's death, the baton was handed on to several guest...
and was a voice coach with the Capitol City Opera Company. She died in Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
.
Music on CD
- Orff: Carmina BuranaCarmina Burana (Orff)Carmina Burana is a scenic cantata composed by Carl Orff in 1935 and 1936. It is based on 24 of the poems found in the medieval collection Carmina Burana...
. Carl OrffCarl OrffCarl Orff was a 20th-century German composer, best known for his cantata Carmina Burana . In addition to his career as a composer, Orff developed an influential method of music education for children.-Early life:...
(1895 - 1982) Performers: Janice Harsanyi (Soprano), Rudolf Petrak (Tenor), Harve PresnellHarve PresnellHarve Presnell was an American actor and singer. He began his career in the mid 1950s as a classical baritone, singing with orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States...
(Baritone). Rutgers University Chorus. - Orff: Carmina Burana. Carl Orff. Performers: Janice Harsanyi (Soprano), Rudolf Petrak (Tenor), Harve Presnell (Baritone). Rutgers University Chorus.