Elisabeth Schumann

1888 Merseburg-1952 New York
Elisabeth Schumann, born June 13, 1888 in Merseburg, Germany, opera singer (soprano), voice teacher, organist. She studied voice in Dresden, Hamburg (Natalia Hirsch and Marie Dierich) and Berlin (Alma Schadow). After her debut at the Hamburg opera house, where she staid until 1919, she was a member of the Vienna State Opera for Mozart-and Strauss-repertoire until 1937, 1922 -35 member of the ensemble of the Salzburger Festspiele and 1924-31 member of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, beloved for her presentation of Adele (The Bat byJohann Strauss) and Sophie ((Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss). She appeared in guest performances in New York (1914-15 Metropolitan Opera House), Milan, Berlin, Dresden, Munich and London, e.g. as soloist in the guest performance of the Wiener Philharmoniker under Bruno Walter. That same year she was highly acclaimed at the Salzburger Festspiele. 1938 she was able to flee to the USA, where she teached at the renowned Curtis Institute of Music ind Philadelphia and specialized as 'Lieder' singer; From 1947 onwards she returned for concerts to Europe. 'Kammersängerin' Elisabeth Schumann was married to conductor Carl Alwin (divorced 1933); 1937 she was awarded the honorary membership of the Vienna State Opera, and as the first woman ever she recieved the honorary membership of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra . Elisabeth Schumann has passed away in New York on April 23, 1952. Update Primavera Driessen Gruber September 7, 2015