Birth

:

December 15, 1917

Death

:

February 21, 2019 in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Period

:

Classical

 

 

Romantic

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

 

Symphony

 

Hilde Zadek was a renowned Austrian soprano who was born on December 15, 1917, in Bromberg, Germany (now Bydgoszcz, Poland). She was the daughter of a Jewish family and grew up in Vienna, Austria. Her father was a businessman, and her mother was a pianist. Zadek showed an early interest in music and began taking piano lessons at the age of six. However, she soon realized that her true passion was singing. Zadek began her vocal training at the Vienna Music Academy, where she studied with the famous soprano Maria Jeritza. She made her debut in 1938 at the Vienna State Opera as the Queen of the Night in Mozart's "The Magic Flute." Her performance was a huge success, and she quickly became a rising star in the opera world. During World War II, Zadek's family was forced to flee Austria due to their Jewish heritage. They moved to Switzerland, where Zadek continued her vocal training with the renowned soprano Luise Willer-Baumgartner. In 1941, Zadek made her debut at the Zurich Opera as Gilda in Verdi's "Rigoletto." Her performance was once again a huge success, and she quickly became a favorite of audiences and critics alike. After the war, Zadek returned to Vienna and resumed her career at the Vienna State Opera. She also began performing in other major opera houses around the world, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and La Scala in Milan. Zadek was known for her powerful voice, her dramatic intensity, and her ability to convey deep emotion through her singing. One of Zadek's most famous roles was that of Leonore in Beethoven's "Fidelio." She performed this role numerous times throughout her career, including at the Salzburg Festival in 1955, where she received rave reviews for her performance. Zadek also had great success in the operas of Richard Strauss, particularly in the role of the Marschallin in "Der Rosenkavalier." In addition to her opera performances, Zadek was also a highly sought-after concert singer. She performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic. Zadek was particularly known for her interpretations of the works of Gustav Mahler, and she recorded several of his symphonies and song cycles. Throughout her career, Zadek received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the world of classical music. In 1951, she was awarded the title of Kammersängerin by the Austrian government, which is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a singer in Austria. She was also awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1977 and the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art in 1987. Zadek continued to perform well into her 70s, and she remained an active supporter of the arts throughout her life. She passed away on February 21, 2019, at the age of 101. Her legacy as one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century lives on through her recordings and the memories of those who were fortunate enough to see her perform live.

More....