Gertrud Elisabeth Mara
 | This article includes a improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (January 2013) ) |
Gertrud Elisabeth Mara | |
|---|---|
Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun | |
| Born | Gertrud Elisabeth Schmeling 23 February 1749 |
| Died | 20 January 1833 (aged 83) |
| Nationality | German |
| Occupation | operatic soprano. |
Gertrud Elisabeth Mara (née Schmeling) (23 February 1749 – 20 January 1833) was a German operatic soprano.
Life
Gertrude was born in Kassel, the daughter of a poor musician, Johann Schmeling. From him she learnt to play the violin, and while still a child, her playing at the fair at Frankfurt was so remarkable that money was collected to provide for her. She took singing lessons under Pietro Domenico Paradisi.[1] She was helped by influential friends, and studied under Johann Adam Hiller in Leipzig for five years, alongside Corona Schröter, proving to be endowed with a wonderful soprano voice.[2]
She began to sing in public in 1771, and was soon recognized as the greatest singer that Germany had produced. She was permanently engaged for the
She went to Livonia, where she became a music teacher in Reval, and died there in 1833 in extreme poverty; she was buried at Kopli cemetery.
Notes
References
- "Elisabeth Mara", Brockhaus Conversations-Lexikon, vol. 3, pp. 59–62, Amsterdam 1809
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Mara, Gertrud Elisabeth". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 667.
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.)
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Further reading
- Isabelle Emerson (2005). "7". Five Centuries of Women Singers. ISBN 9780313308109.
External links
