Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

Germany

Birth

:

December 9, 1915 in Jarotschin, Germany

Death

:

August 4, 2006 in Schruns, Vorarlberg province, Austria

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was a renowned classical music artist who was born on December 9, 1915, in Jarotschin, Germany. She was the daughter of Friedrich Schwarzkopf, a school principal, and his wife, Elisabeth. Her father was a keen music lover and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. She began her musical training at the age of 16 at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik. Schwarzkopf's early career was marked by her performances in operas and concerts in Germany. She made her debut in 1938 at the Berlin State Opera as the Second Flower Maiden in Richard Wagner's Parsifal. She quickly gained recognition for her beautiful voice and her ability to convey emotion through her singing. In 1942, she joined the Vienna State Opera, where she performed in a number of operas, including Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni. Schwarzkopf's international career began in 1947 when she made her debut at the Salzburg Festival in Austria. She performed in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, which was a huge success and marked the beginning of her international fame. She went on to perform in a number of other operas at the Salzburg Festival, including Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier and Mozart's Don Giovanni. In 1951, Schwarzkopf made her debut at the Royal Opera House in London, where she performed in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. She quickly became a favorite of the British public and went on to perform in a number of other operas at the Royal Opera House, including Richard Strauss's Capriccio and Der Rosenkavalier. Schwarzkopf's career was not limited to opera. She was also a renowned concert singer and performed in a number of concerts throughout her career. She was particularly known for her performances of lieder, or German art songs. She recorded a number of albums of lieder, including a highly acclaimed recording of Schubert's Winterreise. Schwarzkopf's career was marked by a number of awards and honors. In 1953, she was awarded the title of Kammersängerin by the Vienna State Opera, which is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a singer in Austria. In 1961, she was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, which is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a citizen of Germany. She was also awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1992 for her services to music. Schwarzkopf retired from performing in 1971, but she continued to be involved in the music world. She taught master classes and served as a judge in international singing competitions. She also recorded a number of albums of her favorite songs and arias. Elisabeth Schwarzkopf died on August 3, 2006, at the age of 90. She was remembered as one of the greatest classical music artists of the 20th century. Her beautiful voice and her ability to convey emotion through her singing continue to inspire musicians and music lovers around the world.

More....