Country

:

Slovakia

Birth

:

November 12, 1939 in Uhorska, Czechoslovakia

Death

:

November 16, 1993

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

 

Vocal

 

Lucia Popp was a Slovak soprano who was born on November 12, 1939, in Záhorská Ves, Czechoslovakia. She was the daughter of a Slovak mother and a German father. Her father was a member of the Nazi party and was killed in action during World War II. After the war, Lucia and her mother moved to Bratislava, where Lucia began her musical studies. Lucia Popp's talent was recognized at an early age, and she was accepted into the Bratislava Conservatory. She studied there for six years, and during that time, she won several awards and competitions. In 1963, she made her debut at the Slovak National Theatre in Bratislava, where she sang the role of the Queen of the Night in Mozart's "The Magic Flute." In 1963, Lucia Popp was invited to join the Vienna State Opera, where she made her debut as the Queen of the Night. She quickly became a favorite of the Vienna audience, and she sang many roles there over the years. In 1965, she made her debut at the Salzburg Festival, where she sang the role of Zerlina in Mozart's "Don Giovanni." This performance was a great success, and it helped to establish her as one of the leading sopranos of her generation. Lucia Popp's career continued to flourish throughout the 1970s and 1980s. She sang at many of the world's leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Royal Opera House in London, and La Scala in Milan. She was particularly renowned for her performances of Mozart's operas, but she also sang many other roles, including Pamina in "The Magic Flute," Susanna in "The Marriage of Figaro," and Sophie in "Der Rosenkavalier." In addition to her opera performances, Lucia Popp was also a highly regarded concert singer. She sang with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra. She was particularly renowned for her performances of the music of Mozart, Schubert, and Richard Strauss. Lucia Popp's career was not without its challenges. In 1980, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she underwent surgery and chemotherapy. She returned to the stage after a period of recovery, and she continued to sing for many years. However, her health problems eventually caught up with her, and she was forced to retire from singing in 1993. Lucia Popp received many awards and honors during her career. In 1978, she was awarded the title of Kammersängerin by the Austrian government, in recognition of her services to music. She was also awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1987. In 1990, she was awarded the title of Honorary Member of the Vienna State Opera, in recognition of her many performances there. Lucia Popp died on November 16, 1993, at the age of 54. She was mourned by music lovers around the world, who remembered her as one of the greatest sopranos of her generation. Her legacy lives on through her many recordings, which continue to be cherished by music lovers today.

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