Hertha Töpper
Hertha Töpper | |
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| Born | 19 April 1924 |
| Died | 28 March 2020 (aged 95) |
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| Title | Kammersängerin |
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Hertha Töpper (German: ['hɛrta 'tœpər]; 19 April 1924 – 28 March 2020)[1] was an Austrian contralto in opera and concert, and an academic voice teacher. A member of the Bavarian State Opera, she appeared in leading roles at major international opera houses and festivals.
Career
Born in Graz as the daughter of a music teacher,[2] Töpper began her singing studies at the Graz Conservatory[3] while still at high school.[2] In 1945, she made her operatic debut at the Graz Opera as Ulrica in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera. She remained an ensemble member until 1952.[2] The first Bayreuth Festival after World War II invited her in 1951 for Wagner's Ring cycle.[3][2]
Also in 1951, she first performed at the
Besides opera, Töpper was renowned concert singer of lieder and oratorio; her collaboration with Karl Richter in the interpretation of works by Johann Sebastian Bach became reference works.[2]
In 1949, Töpper married composer
Töpper died in Munich on 28 March 2020, a few days before her 96th birthday.[4]
Awards
- 1955 Bavarian Kammersängerin[2]
- 1962 Bavarian Order of Merit[3]
- 1985 Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Officer's Cross (Verdienstkreuz 1. Klasse)
- 1988 Great Cross of Honour of Styria[2]
- 1995 Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art[2]
- 2009 Mastersingers Medal (Meistersinger-Medaille) of the Bavarian State Opera[2]
References
- ^ "Österreichische Altistin stirbt 95-jährig" by juw, Stuttgarter Zeitung, 31 March 2020 (in German)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Harten, Uwe (2020). "Töpper, Hertha". Oesterreichisches Musiklexikon (in German). Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "Die Bayerische Staatsoper trauert um eine der größten Altistinnen der Nachkriegszeit". Bavarian State Opera (in German). 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ Death notice, Süddeutsche Zeitung, 1 April 2020
Further reading
- Walter Herrmann, ISBN 978-3-7011-7571-0.
External links
- Werke von und über Hertha Töpper in the German National Library catalogue
- Hertha Töpper discography at Discogs
- Töpper, Hertha bmlo.uni-muenchen.de
- Hertha Töpper (Contralto, Mezzo-soprano), Bach Cantatas Website
- Interview (75 min) on YouTube, August Everding, 3sat. 1 October 1988
- Audiointerview mit Hertha Töpper im Onlinearchiv der Österreichischen Mediathek
- Hertha Töpper www.isoldes-liebestod.net
- Töpper rehearsing Carmen on YouTube with Joseph Keilberth
- Matthäuspassion 1958 Können Tränen meiner Wangen on YouTube
- "The contralto Hertha Töpper has died", Gramophone, 2 April 2020
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