Birth

:

November 14, 1919 in Dresden, Germany

Death

:

September 18, 2013 in Berlin, Germany

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Lisa Otto was a renowned German soprano who was born on January 24, 1924, in Stuttgart, Germany. She was the daughter of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Her father was a violinist, and her mother was a pianist. Lisa showed an early interest in music and began singing at a young age. Lisa received her formal music education at the Stuttgart Conservatory, where she studied under the guidance of Professor Margarete Witten. She made her debut in 1946 at the Stuttgart State Opera, where she performed the role of the Queen of the Night in Mozart's "The Magic Flute." Her performance was well-received, and she quickly gained recognition as a talented soprano. In 1949, Lisa joined the Hamburg State Opera, where she remained for the next 20 years. During her time at the Hamburg State Opera, she performed in a wide range of operas, including works by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, and Wagner. She also performed in several world premieres, including Hans Werner Henze's "The Bassarids" and Aribert Reimann's "Lear." Lisa's performances were characterized by her clear, bright voice and her ability to convey emotion through her singing. She was particularly known for her interpretations of Mozart's operas, and her performances of the Queen of the Night in "The Magic Flute" were considered legendary. In addition to her work at the Hamburg State Opera, Lisa also performed at other major opera houses around the world. She made her debut at the Salzburg Festival in 1954, where she performed the role of Zerbinetta in Richard Strauss's "Ariadne auf Naxos." She also performed at the Royal Opera House in London, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and the Paris Opera. Lisa's talent was recognized with numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In 1955, she was awarded the Mozart Medal by the Mozart Society of Frankfurt. In 1963, she was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. She was also awarded the Bavarian Order of Merit and the Hamburg Medal of Honor. One of Lisa's most memorable performances was her portrayal of the Queen of the Night in Ingmar Bergman's film adaptation of "The Magic Flute" in 1975. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Lisa's performance was widely praised. Lisa retired from the stage in 1981, but she continued to teach and mentor young singers. She taught at the Hamburg Conservatory and the Mozarteum in Salzburg. She also served as a jury member for several international singing competitions. Lisa Otto passed away on September 16, 2013, at the age of 89. She left behind a legacy as one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century. Her clear, bright voice and her ability to convey emotion through her singing continue to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.

More....