Gregor József Bust in Szeged, Hungary

myminifactory

József Gregor emerged as a renowned Hungarian bass-baritone/basso buffo, catapulting to success in Hungary, France, Belgium, and Canada before finally establishing himself in the United States. Born on August 8, 1940, József Gregor originated from Rákosliget, a small town that has since merged into Budapest. He dedicated ten years to mastering the violin and then one year at the prestigious Liszt Academy in Budapest to hone his voice, although he did not complete his studies. In 1958, József Gregor embarked on a singing career with the Hungarian Army chorus before becoming a soloist at the National Theatre of Szeged in Hungary. As his reputation grew, József Gregor performed in numerous opera houses across Europe, including Vlaamse Opera and La Scala in Milan. Beginning in 1989, he made his mark on the US stage with the Portland Opera, followed by appearances with the Houston Grand Opera and the Metropolitan Opera, where he shared the spotlight with Cecilia Bartoli at her American debut and Bryn Terfel. His impressive repertoire included iconic roles like Sarastro, Osmin, Falstaff, Don Pasquale, Dulcamara, Don Basilio, Don Bartolo, Don Magnifico, Boris Godunov, Varlaam, Philip II, Bluebeard, and many others in masses, oratorios, musicals (Tevye, Caiaphas), and songs. József Gregor left an indelible mark on the music world through his numerous recordings with Arts Music, Sony Classical, and particularly with Hungaroton. In 1996, he collaborated with Andras Ruszanov to create a Hungarian lyrics version of Comme d'habitude/My Way, titled Az én utam, which was directed by Péter Wolf. This rendition became an instant hit in Hungary after József Gregor performed it on one of the most popular TV shows in Budapest; since then, it has remained a staple on numerous radio stations across the country. József Gregor's remarkable career came to an end on October 27, 2006, when he passed away due to gastric cancer. Despite his untimely demise, József Gregor's legacy lives on through his incredible body of work and the enduring popularity of Az én utam. This object is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory, which aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate. Scanned using photogrammetry and processed with Agisoft PhotoScan.