Greatest Female Opera Singers
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- Elisabeth Rethberg was born on 22 September 1894 in Schwarzenberg, Germany. She was married to George Cehanovsky and Albert Doman. She died on 6 June 1976 in Yorktown Heights, New York, USA.
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Rosa Ponselle was born to Neapolitan immigrants in Conneticut. She was a natural-born singer and launched a career first in Vaudville, where she was working in 1918, when Enrico Caruso discovered her and persuaded her to join the Metropolitan Opera. Her debut occurred in Verdi's "La Forza del Destino" as Leonora. She had had no formal training as an opera singer and for nearly twenty years thereafter managed great successes as a soprano at the Met and in other opera houses in America and Europe. Primarily remembered for her performances in Verdi operas, she abruptly withdrew from the stage in 1937 and retired at the age of 40 -- newly wed to Carle A. Jackson -- to a home near Baltimore, Maryland. She continued to stay active in the operatic world, occasionally recording, but mostly devoting her energies and talents for the next 44 years to a school she formed at her home, where the likes of Placido Domingo and Beverly Sills (among others) were coached and encouraged onto their own successful operatic careers.- Actress
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Born in Stranstuen, Hamar, Norway, Norwegian soprano Kisten Flagstad's father was a conductor, and her mother was a singing coach and pianist as well as her first teacher. Flagstad continued her studies in Oslo with Ellen Schyte-Jacobsen and in Stockholm with Dr. Gillis Bratt. While still a student, she made her début at the National Theater in Oslo in 1913 as Nuri in D'Albert's Tiefland. For the next 18 years she sang exclusively in Scandinavia, performing in opera, operetta and musical comedy. Flagstad's first Isolde in Oslo in 1932 led to Bayreuth engagements in minor parts in 1933 and to roles as Sieglinde and Gutrune in 1934. Later in 1934, Flagstad turned her sights on North America and auditioned at the Metropolitan Opera to succeed the reigning Wagnerian soprano Frida Leider. Her unheralded Met début as Sieglinde, broadcast nationwide on February 2, 1935, created a sensation. Four days later, she sang Isolde, and later that month, performed Brünhilde in Die Walküre and Die Götterdämmerung for the first time. Almost overnight she was regarded as the pre-eminent Wagnerian soprano of her generation. Later that season, Flagstad also sang Elsa, Elisabeth, and her first Kundry. Fidelio (1936) was her only non-Wagnerian role at the Met before the war. She sang the same repertory in San Francisco in 1935-38 and in Chicago in 1937.
In 1936 and 1937 she performed the roles of Isolde, Brünhilde and Senta at Covent Garden under Sir Thomas Beecham, Fritz Reiner and Wilhelm Furtwängler, arousing as much enthusiasm there as in New York. In 1941 Flagstad returned to Nazi-occupied Norway to join her second husband, whose collaboration with the Nazis led to his arrest after World War II. Although her own wartime record was free from controversy, her return to Norway during the war and a certain political naïvété in her nature created much ill-feeling towards her, particularly in the USA.
During four consecutive Covent Garden seasons, from 1948 to 1951, Flagstad repeated all her regular Wagnerian roles, including Kundry and Sieglinde. She returned to San Francisco in 1948 but was not invited back to the Metropolitan Opera until Sir Rudolph Bing became manager. In the 1950-1951 season, although she was well into her 50s, she showed herself still in remarkable form as Isolde, Brünnhilde and Fidelio. Flagstad's final role at the Metropolitan Opera was as Alceste in Gluck's opera. Her final operatic performances were as Purcell's Dido at the Mermaid Theatre in London in 1953. Flagstad continued to record and sing concerts, and was director of the Norwegian National Opera from 1958-1960.
The enduring purity, beauty and power of Flagstad's tone probably owed much, not only to natural gifts and sound training, but to the enforced repose of the war years and the fact that she had undertaken no heavy roles until middle life. She was regarded as an impeccable musician in matters of rhythm and intonation. While she was not the most dramatic or magnetic of Wagnerian heroines, no one within living memory surpassed her sheer beauty and consistency of line and tone. Of her many records, the complete Tristan und Isolde with Furtwängler undoubtedly offers the finest memorial to her interpretive art in its maturity. Her pre-war recordings, however, showcase her voice in its freshest brilliance and clarity.- Actress
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Elisabeth Grümmer was born on 31 March 1911 in Niederjeutz, Alsace-Lorraine, Germany [now Yutz, Thionville, Moselle, France]. She was an actress, known for Mozart's Don Giovanni (1955), Don Giovanni (1961) and Civilisation (1969). She was married to Detlef Grümmer. She died on 6 November 1986 in Warendorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.- Sena Jurinac was born on 24 October 1921 in Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia [now Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina]. She was an actress, known for On Such a Night (1956), Hänsel und Gretel (1981) and Der Rosenkavalier (1961). She was married to Josef Lederle and Sesto Bruscantini. She died on 22 November 2011 in Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany.
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Christa Ludwig was born on 16 March 1928 in Berlin, Germany. She was an actress, known for Fatal Attraction (1987), La haine (1995) and Fidelio (1963). She was married to Paul-Emile Deiber and Walter Berry. She died on 24 April 2021 in Klosterneuburg, Austria.- Actress
Ebe Stignani was born on 11 July 1904 in Naples, Italy. She was an actress, known for Aida (1953). She died on 4 October 1974 in Bologna, Italy.- Mafalda Favero was born on 5 January 1905 in Portomaggiore, Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. She was an actress, known for Musica di sogno (1940). She died on 3 September 1981 in Milan, Lombardy, Italy.
- Frida Leider was born on 18 April 1888 in Berlin, Germany. She was married to Rudolf Deman. She died on 4 June 1975 in Berlin, Germany.
- Marjorie Lawrence was a soprano, famed for her interpretation of Richard Wgner's operatic heroines, and equally comfortable performing within the mezzo range. During her teens she won a number of vocal competitions, eventually studying in Paris and making her onstage debut in Monte Carlo in 1932 as Elisabeth in Wagner's Tannhauser. In the following year she won critical praise in Paris for her performance in the demanding role of Ortrud in Lohengrin. Her appearance in New York's Metropolitan Opera production of Gotterdammerung in 1936, became legendary in operatic history as it marked the first time the heroine had exited offstage into the flames astride a horse - as Wagner had originally intended. Lawrence was extremely versatile, assuming the roles of Tosca, Alceste, Carmen and Salome in various productions. In the latter, she sang in a new German translation and astonished everyone by dramatically discarding all seven veils on cue.
In 1941, while performing in Mexico City she was struck with poliomyelitis, surviving the disease by becoming confined to a wheelchair for several years. Fortunately, although hampered by her lack of mobility, her voice was not affected by the disease. and in 1942 was able to perform a concert at Lauritz Melchior's invitation. A year later she appeared at the Met as Venus in Tannhauser, a role chosen especially as it is perhaps the only operatic role that can be sung by a performer who need neither stand nor walk.
Lawrence became famous during World War II for trips abroad to entertain allied troops in both European and Asian combat zones. In 1946 she was awarded the French Legion d'Honneur for these activities, and thirty years later was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her services to the performing arts.
Following a 1946 Paris performance as Amneris in Verdi's Aida, she retired from the stage and taught international operatic students in Hot Springs, Arkansas until her death. - Actress
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Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was born on 9 December 1915 in Jarotschin, Prussia, Germany [now Jarocin, Wielkopolskie, Poland]. She was an actress, known for Closer (2004), Der Rosenkavalier (1961) and Nacht ohne Abschied (1943). She was married to Walter Legge. She died on 3 August 2006 in Schruns, Vorarlberg, Austria.- Actress
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Lotte Lehmann was born on 27 February 1888 in Perleberg, Germany. She was an actress, known for Big City (1948), Wäsche - Waschen - Wohlergehen (1932) and The Day of the Locust (1975). She was married to Otto Krause-Jakobowitz. She died on 26 August 1976 in Santa Barbara, California, USA.- Bidu Sayão was born on 11 May 1902 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was married to Giuseppe Danise and Walter Mocchi. She died on 12 March 1999 in Lincolnville, Maine, USA.
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Giannina Arangi Lombardi was born on 20 June 1891 in Marigliano, Naples, Campania, Italy. She was an actress, known for La Wally (1932) and Bye Bye Blackbird (2005). She died on 9 July 1951 in Milan, Lombardy, Italy.- Zinka Milanov was born on 17 May 1906 in Zagreb, Croatia, Yugoslavia. She was married to Ljubo Ilic (diplomat) and Predrag Milanov. She died on 30 May 1989 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
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Joan Sutherland was born on 7 November 1926 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She was an actress, known for The Metropolitan Opera Presents (1977), Spectre (2015) and Carlito's Way (1993). She was married to Richard Bonynge. She died on 10 October 2010 in Montreux, Switzerland.- Actress
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This volatile opera diva was born Sophie Cecilia Kalos in New York City to Greek émigrés on December 2, 1923. Her father set up a pharmacy and changed the family name from Kalogeropoulos to Callas. As a child Maria studied the piano. When her parents separated (she was 14 at the time), her mother returned to Athens with Maria and her sister.
The budding singer was quickly accepted into the National Conservatoire where she was taught singing lessons by Maria Trivella. She performed her first recital within the year and in 1939 won a prize for her stage debut in the Conservatoire's production of "Cavalleria Rusticana." In 1941, the soprano dramatico d'agilita made her professional debut in "Boccaccio" with the Lyric Theatre Company. While there she made a semi-name for herself with performances of "Tosca" and "Fidelio."
Impending war led her back to the United States in 1944 where she reclaimed the name of Maria Callas. She was offered a contract from the Met which she turned down because among the three roles she was offered to sing there was Butterfly and she believed that she was too obese to sing the fragile 14 year-old Butterfly, her friends considered her to be crazy turning down the Met while she was so unknown.
Maria performed elsewhere (Chicago, etc.) before returning to Europe in the post-war years where she met Giovanni Battista Meneghini, a wealthy industrialist and avid opera fan. They married in 1949 and he immediately took control of her career. She reached her zenith at La Scala (1951-1958), also recording during that time. In 1956, she finally made her debut at the Met as "Norma" with performances of "Tosca" and "Lucia" following.
Within a couple of years her temperamental outbursts and excessive demands began to rise full force, resulting in a number of dismissals and walkouts. After meeting Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis through her husband, a torrid affair erupted and her marriage ended. Maria gave up the stage in the early 1960s for the jet-set life with Onassis, but continued with occasional concerts. Despite experiencing vocal problems, she made one unforgettable comeback on stage in 1964-1965 when she toured with her personal favorites ("Norma" in Paris and "Tosca" at the Met). Weak and tired, her final curtain on stage rang down in July of 1965 in Covent Garden.
With her career over, she renounced her American citizenship and expected to marry Onassis. But their relationship was a stormy one and it eventually tapered off with Onassis instead marrying Jacqueline Kennedy in 1968. Maria was completely devastated and those around her say she never recovered. The following year she filmed an unsuccessful production of Medea (1969) and eventually set up master classes at Juilliard. In one last comeback, she attempted a European tour of recitals but her voice completely failed her. Her last public performance was on November 11, 1975.
Riddled by sadness and despair, and by now firmly addicted to sleeping pills, Maria turned reclusive in her last year and died of a heart attack in 1977 at age 53. Despite a career that flourished less than two decades, Callas must be respected as one of the more important and recognizable opera legends. She was certainly one of the most emotive and visually dramatic. What also carries her today is, of course, her grandly turbulent and tragic image -- an Édith Piaf of opera.- Miss Maria Cebotari complained about horrible pain during her opera performance the Figaro (music by Mozart) in Milano. She complained about her tiredness, and tried to fight against her unknown illness. Doctors discovered she had gallbladder infection. The diet she was on did not help at all. Miss Cebotari finally went for a medical examination under the direction of primarius doctor Strasser. An infected gallbladder was found, and gall stones needed to be removed. Miss Cebotari thought about her pain and tiredness, however she had no time to be ill at all. In March she played Laura in the operette 'The Beggar Student'. Furthermore she sang for an American movie company in Vienna 'L'Habanera' from the opera Carmen. Miss Cebotari was still performing in the operette which turned out to be a huge success; however her health was declining rapidly. The premiere of 'The Beggar Student' took place on March 27 in Vienna, Austria. Her last performance on stage ever was on March 31, while she was tortured by a lot of pain. Finally a surgery was performed on April 4 by primarius doctor Stradal. The doctor also discovered that Miss Cebotari suffered from Pankreas-Leberkarzinom, however did not inform her about this. The surgery came too late. After the surgery Miss Cebotari continued to have severe pains. However she made plans for the coming year and continued her schedule. Heavy painkillers relieved Miss Cebotari in her last days. After a long life in agonay Miss Cebotari died in her Villa in Vienna, Austria on June 9, 1949. Only the good die young.
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Ljuba Welitsch was born in Borissovo, Bulgaria on July 10, 1913. When her musical talents were discovered she moved to Sofia, where her talents got her into the Academy of Music in Vienna. After singing small operatic roles in provintial opera houses, and believing that she needed a little extra something to make herself stand out, Welitsch dyed her hair flaming red...and people took notice. Welitsch pushed her high, lyric soprano into a register that wasn't completely appropriate for her, which brought about rather quick destruction of her voice. But in her prime (which, unfortunately, coincided with WWII) she became a legend. Singing at the Vienna State Opera, Covent Garden in London, the Metropolitan in NY, she had to refuse La Scala in Milan because there was no time on her schedule. Her most famous role was Richard Strauss' Salome, which sang for the first time for Strauss himself in 1944 in honor of his 80th birthday in Vienna. (Strauss coached her in the role.) Soon performances of "Salome" followed at Covent Garden (in a notorious production designed by Salvador Dali and staged by Peter Brook.) She took NY by storm in this opera in 1949, with tickets for performances being scalped at unheard of at that time $100 per seat. (She once sang Musetta in "La Boheme" at the Metropolitan. Doing her best to upstage everyone else she did all kinds of jumps and backflips...sans underwear. The general manager never let her sing the role again there.) In a famous performance of Puccini's "Tosca" at the Met in 1950 her partner was the legendary baritone Lawrence Tibbett, who stepped in at the last minute for an ailing colleague. Because the two had no rehearsals their violent confrontation in Act II was a virtual fight. She sang "Vissi, d'arte" on her knees - which is how she landed after Tibbett threw her - and when she stabed Tibbett's character at the end of the act, she stabbed him repeatedly and then kicked his "lifeless" body. The audience was very amused. By singing roles that were essentially too heavy for her, and by singing them a lot, Welitsch's voice began to deteriorate very rapidly. (Surgeries to remove nodes on her vocal cords, no doubt, contributed to the decline). By the late 1950s the voice was in pieces. She retired from opera, but until her death in 1996 acted on the stage, films, and sang light roles in operettas. Welitsch died on September 1, 1996. She is buried at the City Cemetery in Vienna, in a special section called "Graves of Honor." Her neighbors there include Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, and Richard Strauss.- Actress
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Eleanor Steber was born on 17 July 1914 in Wheeling, West Virginia, USA. She was an actress, known for Camera Three (1955), Der Rosenkavalier (1949) and The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1956). She died on 3 October 1990 in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, USA.- Actress
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Irmgard Seefried was born on 9 October 1919 in Köngetried, Apfeltrach, Bavaria, Germany. She was an actress, known for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), Das Tor zum Frieden (1951) and All Things Fair (1995). She was married to Wolfgang Schneiderhan. She died on 24 November 1988 in Vienna, Austria.- Actress
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Erna Berger was born on 19 October 1900 in Dresden, Germany. She was an actress, known for The Marriage of Figaro (1949), Mozart's Don Giovanni (1955) and Falstaff in Vienna (1940). She was married to Sverre Wiull. She died on 14 June 1990 in Essen, Germany.- Actress
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Lisa della Casa was born on 2 February 1919 in Burgdorf, Kanton Bern, Switzerland. She was an actress, known for Mozart's Don Giovanni (1955), Mir lönd nüd lugg (1940) and Füsilier Wipf (1938). She was married to Dragan Debelevic and Ernst Robert Geiser. She died on 10 December 2012 in Münsterlingen, Kanton Thurgau, Switzerland.- Hilde Güden was born on 15 September 1917 in Vienna, Austria-Hungary [now Austria]. She was an actress, known for The Life and Loves of Mozart (1955), Die Hochzeit des Figaro (1963) and Unsterblicher Mozart (1954). She was married to Robert Dannemann. She died on 17 September 1988 in Vienna, Austria.
- Martha Mödl was born on 22 March 1912 in Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany. She was an actress, known for The Merry Wives of Windsor (1950), Omnibus (1952) and Arabella (1977). She died on 17 December 2001 in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
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Birgit Nilsson was born on 17 May 1918 in Västra Karup, Skåne län, Sweden. She was an actress, known for Army of Thieves (2021), Da 5 Bloods (2020) and Tristan und Isolde (1974). She was married to Bertil Niklasson. She died on 25 December 2005 in Västra Karup, Skåne län, Sweden.- Actress
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Leontyne Price was born on 10 February 1927 in Laurel, Mississippi, USA. She is an actress, known for Romeo + Juliet (1996), The Metropolitan Opera Presents (1977) and NBC Television Opera Theatre (1949). She was previously married to William Warfield.