The soprano Ildiko Raimondi was born in Arad in Romania and studied singing, ballet, cello and drama there at the Scoalá Specialá de Artá, completing her course with the highest distinction. After engagements at the Vienna Chamber Opera in 1988 and 1989 and in the latter year at the Landestheater in Linz, in 1990 she joined the Vienna State Opera and the Volksoper. She made her Vienna début as Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, with an acclaimed performance in the rôle of Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier. Engagements have included appearances at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, the Leipzig Opera, the Munich Theater am Gärtnerplatz and at opera houses in Genoa, Graz and Tokyo.