Country

:

Norway

Birth

:

July 12, 1895 in Hamar, Norway

Death

:

December 7, 1962 in Oslo, Norway

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Kirsten Flagstad was a Norwegian soprano who is widely regarded as one of the greatest Wagnerian sopranos of the 20th century. She was born on July 12, 1895, in Hamar, Norway, to a musical family. Her father was a conductor and her mother was a pianist. Flagstad showed an early interest in music and began singing in church choirs at a young age. Flagstad's professional career began in 1913 when she made her debut as Nuri in Eugen d'Albert's opera "Tiefland" at the National Theatre in Oslo. She quickly gained recognition for her powerful voice and dramatic stage presence. In 1919, she joined the Norwegian National Opera and performed leading roles in operas by Mozart, Verdi, and Puccini. Flagstad's international career began in 1934 when she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City as Sieglinde in Wagner's "Die Walküre." Her performance was a sensation, and she quickly became one of the Met's most popular and beloved singers. She went on to perform many of Wagner's leading roles at the Met, including Isolde in "Tristan und Isolde," Brünnhilde in "Die Walküre," and Kundry in "Parsifal." Flagstad's performances were known for their emotional intensity and technical brilliance. She had a powerful and rich voice that could soar above the orchestra, and she was able to convey a wide range of emotions through her singing. Her performances of Wagner's music were particularly acclaimed, and she was widely regarded as the greatest Wagnerian soprano of her time. In addition to her performances at the Met, Flagstad also performed at many other major opera houses around the world, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Paris Opera, and the Vienna State Opera. She also made many recordings of her performances, which are still highly regarded today. Flagstad's career was interrupted by World War II, during which she returned to Norway and was briefly imprisoned by the Nazis. After the war, she resumed her career and continued to perform until her retirement in 1957. She was awarded many honors and awards throughout her career, including the Order of St. Olav, Norway's highest civilian honor, and the Légion d'honneur from the French government. Flagstad died on December 7, 1962, in Oslo, Norway, at the age of 67. She is remembered as one of the greatest sopranos of all time, and her recordings and performances continue to inspire and move audiences today.

More....