Today in history: Lotte Lehmann

steemizen (69)in #history • 8 years ago

Hello Steemians!

Welcome to today's episode of the "Today in History" serial, where I bring you daily historical facts and events of the current date.

On February 27. 1888. the German opera singer Charlotte Lehmann was born.
She was born in Perleberg and then moved to Berlin with her family.

She studied in Berlin and then made her debut in 1914. as Eva in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at the Vienna Court Opera.
In 1916. when the Vienna Court Opera became the Viena State opera she joined and established a name for herself.
In the start of her career she often performed in the world premieres of Richard Strauss's operas and later also became the first soprano to sing all three female roles in his opera Der Rosenkavalier.

Lotte Lehman - Der Rosenkavalier

Besides making herself a name in Germany, she was an regular in the Royal Opera House from 1924. to 1935. where she sang multiple roles ion the operas written by Richard Wagner and sang Desdemona in Otello and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni.

*Lotte Lehmann - Isolde's Liebestod - Richard Wagner *

In 1930. she sang "Die Walküre" by Richard Wagner in Chicago which was her debut performance in America, where to she moved in 1938.
After moving to America she was often singing at the San Francisco Opera and the Metropolian Opera till she retired in 1945.
In 1947. she helped found the Music Academy of the West in California.
She started teaching master classes on the Music Academy of the West but also in various other cities throughout the globe, not just America.

Lotte Lehmann - Morgen! -Richard Strauss

Throughout her career she left behind over 500 recordings, several books and after retiring also a few paintings.
She was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Lotte Lehmann & Richard Tauber - Marietta's Lied duet

Lotte Lehmann died on August 26. 1976. in California at the age of 88.
She was moved to rest to the Vienna Central Cemetery.