Birth

:

September 22, 1894 in Schwarzenberg, Germany

Death

:

June 6, 1976 in Yorktown Heights, NY

Period

:

Classical

 

 

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Elisabeth Rethberg was a renowned German soprano who was born on September 22, 1894, in Schwarzenberg, Germany. She was the daughter of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Her father recognized her talent for singing at an early age and began to train her voice. She made her debut at the age of 16 in a local production of Mozart's "The Magic Flute." Rethberg continued her studies in Dresden and Berlin, where she was mentored by the famous soprano Lilli Lehmann. She made her professional debut in 1915 at the Dresden Opera, where she quickly gained recognition for her powerful voice and dramatic stage presence. She was soon invited to perform at other major opera houses in Germany, including the Berlin State Opera and the Munich State Opera. In 1922, Rethberg made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, where she quickly became a favorite of audiences and critics alike. She was known for her beautiful voice, impeccable technique, and ability to convey emotion through her singing. She performed a wide range of roles, from Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" to Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde." Rethberg's career continued to flourish throughout the 1920s and 1930s. She performed regularly at the Metropolitan Opera, as well as at other major opera houses in Europe and the United States. She also made numerous recordings, which helped to spread her fame around the world. One of Rethberg's most memorable performances was in 1935, when she sang the role of Elsa in a production of Wagner's "Lohengrin" at the Salzburg Festival. Her performance was widely praised, and she was hailed as one of the greatest sopranos of her time. Rethberg's career was interrupted by World War II, during which she returned to Germany and performed for the troops. After the war, she returned to the United States and resumed her career at the Metropolitan Opera. She continued to perform until her retirement in 1949. Throughout her career, Rethberg received numerous awards and honors. She was made a Kammersängerin (court singer) by the German government in 1924, and she was awarded the title of Honorary Member of the Vienna State Opera in 1937. She was also awarded the Cross of Honor for Science and Art by the Austrian government in 1953. Elisabeth Rethberg died on June 6, 1976, in New York City. She is remembered as one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century, and her recordings continue to be admired by music lovers around the world.

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