Photo: Creencia05 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Born on May 16, 1945, Sylvester Levay is from Subotica, Serbia. Sylvester Levay is listed as a film score composer, musician and bandleader. The age as of 2026 is 81. Recorded honors include Berufstitel Professor (2021), Goldene Stimmgabel (2002) and German Musical Theatre Prizes. Notable works include Elisabeth, Mozart! and Rebecca.
My Take
I'll be honest — I came to Sylvester Levay late, through a friend who was obsessed with the Vienna musical scene, and the moment I heard the score for Elisabeth I completely understood the obsession. Born in Subotica in what was then Yugoslavia, Levay built a career that quietly became the backbone of the German-language musical world, composing sweeping, emotionally devastating scores for shows like Mozart!, Rebecca, and Marie Antoinette. There's a theatricality to his music that feels almost cinematic — big romantic melodies that hit you somewhere deep before you even know what's happening. The fact that he was awarded the honorary title of Professor in 2021 and the Goldene Stimmgabel back in 2002 tells you the industry knows exactly what it has in him. His work has run for decades on stages from Vienna to Tokyo, and that staying power is no accident.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Sylvester Levay
- Name (Japanese)
- シルヴェスター・リーヴァイ
- Reading
- しるゔぇすたー・りーゔぁい
- Born
- May 16, 1945 (age 81)
- Origin
- Subotica, Serbia
- Occupation
- composer / film score composer / musician / bandleader
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Taurus / Rooster
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 2021 Berufstitel Professor
- 2002 Goldene Stimmgabel
- German Musical Theatre Prizes
3. Works & records
Filmography / notable works
| Category | Title |
|---|---|
| Notable work | Elisabeth |
| Notable work | Mozart! |
| Notable work | Rebecca |
| Notable work | Marie Antoinette |
| Notable work | Lady Bess |
4. Links
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Sylvester Levay born?
Born May 16, 1945 (age 81).
Where is Sylvester Levay from?
Sylvester Levay is from Subotica, Serbia.
What does Sylvester Levay do?
Sylvester Levay works as composer, film score composer, musician, bandleader.
What is Sylvester Levay known for?
Notable works include Elisabeth, Mozart!, Rebecca.
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