Birth

:

April 26, 1921 in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany

Death

:

August 7, 1995 in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany

Period

:

Baroque

 

 

Classical

 

 

Romantic

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

Marga Höffgen was a German contralto singer who was born on September 9, 1921, in Cologne, Germany. She was the daughter of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Her father was a choir director and her mother was a pianist. Höffgen began singing at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. Höffgen studied at the Cologne Conservatory and later at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. She made her debut in 1943 at the Cologne Opera as the Third Lady in Mozart's "The Magic Flute." Her performance was well-received, and she quickly gained a reputation as a talented contralto singer. Höffgen's career took off in the 1950s when she began performing in major opera houses throughout Europe. She was known for her powerful voice and her ability to convey emotion through her singing. She was particularly renowned for her performances of Bach's cantatas and oratorios. One of Höffgen's most notable performances was in 1954 when she sang the role of Erda in Wagner's "Das Rheingold" at the Bayreuth Festival. Her performance was widely praised, and she became a regular performer at the festival. She also performed at the Salzburg Festival and the Edinburgh Festival. Höffgen was known for her collaborations with conductor Karl Richter. They worked together on many recordings of Bach's cantatas and oratorios, including the famous recording of Bach's "St. Matthew Passion" in 1958. The recording is still considered one of the greatest recordings of the work. Höffgen also performed in many concerts and recitals throughout her career. She was known for her interpretations of lieder and art songs. She was particularly renowned for her performances of Schubert's "Winterreise" and Mahler's "Kindertotenlieder." Höffgen received many awards and honors throughout her career. In 1955, she was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. She was also awarded the Bavarian Order of Merit in 1969. In 1971, she was awarded the Order of Merit of North Rhine-Westphalia. Höffgen retired from performing in 1981. She continued to teach singing and was a professor at the Hochschule für Musik in Munich. She also served as a jury member for many singing competitions. Höffgen died on December 25, 1995, in Munich, Germany. She was remembered as one of the greatest contralto singers of the 20th century. Her recordings continue to be admired for their beauty and emotional depth.

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