Sylvester Levay
Sylvester Levay (originally Lévay Szilveszter, Serbian: Силвестер Леваи, Silvester Levai) is a Hungarian recording artist and composer, born in Yugoslavia (now Serbia).
Also recorded as Lévay Szilveszter
Sylvester Levay
Creencia05 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Sylvester Levay
- Born
- 16 May 1945
- Birthplace
- Subotica, FS Serbia, DF Yugoslavia
- Occupation
- Composer, musician
- Full name
- Szylvester Lévay.
- Nationality
- Hungary and Serbia.
- Fields
- film score.
- Known for
- Elisabeth, Mozart!, Rebecca, Marie Antoinette and Lady Bess.
- Honours
- Berufstitel Professor, Goldene Stimmgabel and German Musical Theatre Prizes.
- Languages
- English and Serbian.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Sylvester Levay (originally Lévay Szilveszter, Serbian: Силвестер Леваи, Silvester Levai) is a Hungarian recording artist and composer, born in Yugoslavia (now Serbia).
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Sylvester Levay. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q694658 · wikipedia · Sylvester Levay
In this article
Biography
Biography
The recorded working language is English and Serbian. The field of work recorded is film score. Works named in the authority record are Elisabeth, Mozart!, Rebecca, Marie Antoinette and Lady Bess. Distinctions recorded are Berufstitel Professor, Goldene Stimmgabel and German Musical Theatre Prizes.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Sylvester Levay • Born — 16 May 1945 • Birthplace — Subotica, FS Serbia, DF Yugoslavia • Genre — Film score • Occupation — Composer, musician • Instrument — Keyboards • Associated Acts — Tangerine Dream
Life and career
Life and career
Levay was born on 16 May 1945 in Subotica in the North Bačka District of Vojvodina, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). Sylvester Levay began his musical studies at the age of eight. Levay developed a taste for American music while growing up in Yugoslavia, eventually becoming a music arranger and lyricist. Upon his arrival in Munich in 1972, he met his writing partner, Michael Kunze, with whom he has created many successful theatrical works. From 1980 to 2000 he lived in Hollywood and concentrated on composing film music. He composed songs for notable artists like Elton John and Penny McLean. He was awarded a Grammy for his 1975 song "Fly Robin Fly". In October 2010, Levay worked with Xiah Junsu of JYJ to prepare for a musical concert - "Kim Junsu Musical Concert, Levay with Friends" in South Korea to be held at Seoul's Olympic Gymnastics Arena. He currently divides his time between homes in Munich, Vienna and Los Angeles.
Compositions (selection)
• "Fly, Robin, Fly" (1975) • Get Up and Boogie (1976) • Scarface OST (as arranger) (1983) • Flashdance soundtrack collaboration with Giorgio Moroder • Where the Boys Are '84 (1984) • Invitation to Hell (1984) • Creator (1985) • My Man Adam (1986) • Airwolf (1984–1986) • Cobra (1986) • Mannequin (1987) • Werewolf (TV series) (1987–88) • Probe (TV series) (1988) • Navy SEALs (1990) • Stone Cold (1991) • Hot Shots! (1991) • Medicopter 117 (1998–2006) • Hexen, Hexen (musical) (1990) • Elisabeth (Musical) (1992) • Mozart! (musical) (1999) • Rebecca (musical) (2006) • Marie Antoinette (musical) (2006) • Beethoven Secret (musical) (2023)
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Sylvester Levay”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q694658: Sylvester Levay
General reference · Wikidata
Awards
• Grammy Award for Fly, Robin, Fly, words by Michael Kunze (1975) • Goldene Stimmgabel (2002) • Goldene Europa (2002)
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
42,438 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Sylvain JacquesPerson
- Sylvain SylvainPerson
- SylvainePerson
- SylvesterPerson
- Sylvester WeaverPerson
- SylviaPerson
- Sylvia Čápová-VizváryPerson
- Sylvia FinePerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Sylvester Levay?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.