Birth

:

December 18, 1920 in Barnaul, Siberia

Death

:

March 20, 1987 in Vienna, Austria

Genre

:

Opera

 

Rita Streich was a German coloratura soprano who was born on December 18, 1920, in Barnaul, Siberia, Russia. Her parents were German and had moved to Russia for work. When Streich was six years old, her family moved back to Germany and settled in Berlin. Streich showed an early interest in music and began taking piano lessons at the age of six. She also sang in her church choir and participated in school musicals. However, it wasn't until she was 18 years old that she began taking voice lessons with the renowned soprano, Erna Berger. Streich's talent was quickly recognized, and she made her professional debut in 1943 at the Berlin State Opera as Barbarina in Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro." She quickly gained a reputation as a talented coloratura soprano and was soon performing in leading roles in operas such as "The Magic Flute," "Don Giovanni," and "The Barber of Seville." In 1949, Streich made her debut at the Salzburg Festival, where she performed the role of Zerbinetta in Richard Strauss's "Ariadne auf Naxos." Her performance was a huge success, and she was invited back to the festival for several more years. Streich's international career took off in the 1950s, and she began performing in major opera houses around the world, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Royal Opera House in London, and the Paris Opera. She was particularly known for her performances in Mozart operas, and her portrayal of the Queen of the Night in "The Magic Flute" was considered one of her signature roles. Streich was also a prolific recording artist, and she recorded many of her most famous roles for Deutsche Grammophon. Her recordings of Mozart's "The Magic Flute" and "The Marriage of Figaro" are still considered some of the best recordings of those operas. Throughout her career, Streich received many awards and honors. In 1954, she was awarded the title of Kammersängerin by the West German government, which is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a singer in Germany. She was also awarded the Order of Merit of Berlin in 1965 and the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1971. Streich retired from performing in 1974, but she continued to teach voice at the Berlin University of the Arts until 1985. She passed away on March 20, 1987, in Stuttgart, Germany, at the age of 66. In conclusion, Rita Streich was a talented coloratura soprano who had a successful international career in opera. She was particularly known for her performances in Mozart operas and was a prolific recording artist. Streich received many awards and honors throughout her career, including the title of Kammersängerin and the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. She retired from performing in 1974 but continued to teach voice until 1985. Streich's legacy lives on through her recordings and the many singers she taught during her career.

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