Country

:

Switzerland

Birth

:

May 26, 1917 in Mannheim, Germany

Death

:

August 26, 2018 in Stuttgart, Germany

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

Inge Borkh was a German soprano who was born on May 26, 1917, in Mannheim, Germany. She was born as Ingeborg Simon and later changed her name to Inge Borkh. Her father was a Jewish businessman, and her mother was a Christian. Borkh grew up in a musical family, and her mother was a singer. She began her musical training at a young age and studied piano, violin, and voice. Borkh made her debut as a singer in 1940 at the Stadttheater in Freiburg, Germany. She quickly gained recognition for her powerful voice and dramatic stage presence. In 1942, she joined the Berlin State Opera, where she performed in a variety of roles, including the title role in Richard Strauss's "Salome." Borkh's career took off in the 1950s, and she became known for her performances in the works of Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss. She made her debut at the Bayreuth Festival in 1951, where she performed the role of Senta in Wagner's "The Flying Dutchman." She went on to perform at the festival for several years, singing the roles of Isolde in "Tristan und Isolde" and Brünnhilde in "Die Walküre" and "Götterdämmerung." Borkh also performed in many other 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 known for her powerful voice and her ability to convey the emotional depth of the characters she portrayed. One of Borkh's most famous performances was in the role of Elektra in Richard Strauss's opera of the same name. She first performed the role in 1953 at the Vienna State Opera, and it became one of her signature roles. She went on to perform the role in many other productions, including a famous production at the Salzburg Festival in 1957, which was conducted by Herbert von Karajan. Borkh was also known for her performances in the works of Giuseppe Verdi. She performed the role of Lady Macbeth in Verdi's "Macbeth" and the title role in "Aida." She also performed in the world premiere of Luigi Dallapiccola's opera "Il prigioniero" in 1949. Borkh received many awards and honors throughout her career. In 1955, she was awarded the title of Kammersängerin by the Vienna State Opera. She was also awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1971 and the Bavarian Order of Merit in 1987. Borkh retired from the stage in 1973 but continued to teach and give masterclasses. She also wrote a book about her life and career, titled "Inge Borkh: Mein Leben auf der Bühne" (Inge Borkh: My Life on the Stage), which was published in 1997. Inge Borkh passed away on August 26, 2018, at the age of 101. She was remembered as one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century, known for her powerful voice, dramatic stage presence, and ability to convey the emotional depth of the characters she portrayed.

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