Country

:

Germany

Birth

:

February 9, 1937 in Varel, Germany

Death

:

August 18, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan

Genre

:

Opera

 

Hildegard Behrens was a German soprano who was born on February 9, 1937, in Varel, Germany. She was the daughter of a schoolteacher and grew up in a musical family. Her father was a church organist, and her mother was a singer. Behrens began singing at a young age and received her first vocal training from her mother. Behrens studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg and later at the Musikhochschule in Stuttgart. She made her operatic debut in 1971 at the Deutsche Oper Berlin as the Queen of the Night in Mozart's "The Magic Flute." Her performance was well-received, and she quickly became a sought-after soprano. Behrens went on to perform at some of the world's most prestigious opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House in London, and the Vienna State Opera. She was known for her powerful voice and dramatic stage presence, and she was particularly acclaimed for her performances in the works of Richard Wagner. One of Behrens' most notable performances was in the Metropolitan Opera's production of Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde" in 1982. She played the role of Isolde opposite tenor Jon Vickers, and the production was conducted by James Levine. Behrens' performance was widely praised, and it helped establish her as one of the leading Wagnerian sopranos of her time. Behrens also received critical acclaim for her performances in other Wagner operas, including "Die Walküre," "Siegfried," and "Götterdämmerung." She was known for her ability to convey the emotional depth and complexity of Wagner's music, and her performances were often described as intense and powerful. In addition to her work in opera, Behrens also performed in concert and recital. She was particularly known for her interpretations of the works of Gustav Mahler, and she recorded several of his symphonies with conductors such as Leonard Bernstein and Claudio Abbado. Behrens received numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In 1989, she was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, and in 1999, she was awarded the Bavarian Order of Merit. She was also a recipient of the Herbert von Karajan Music Prize and the Richard Wagner Society's Bayreuth Festival Prize. Behrens continued to perform well into her 60s, and she remained a beloved figure in the world of classical music until her death in 2009. She was remembered not only for her powerful voice and dramatic performances but also for her warmth and generosity as a person.

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