Ljuba Welitsch
Ljuba Welitsch (* July 10, 1913 in Borissowo, Bulgaria, † September 1, 1996 in Vienna; actually Veličková ) was a Bulgarian / Austrian opera singer (soprano ). Despite their relatively short career, she is counted by critics of the most important singers of the 20th century.
Biography
After studying in Sofia and Vienna Ljuba Welitsch debuted in 1936 in Sofia. It was followed by engagements in Graz ( 1937-40 ), Hamburg and Munich. From 1946 to 1964 she was a member of the Vienna State Opera. In 1949 she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and sang at all major opera houses and at the Salzburg Festival.
The title role in Richard Strauss' Salome was one of the most influential roles in their careers. In 1944 she sang the role for the 80th birthday of the composer under his authority. As Salome she also debuted in 1947 at Covent Garden in London, and in 1949 at the New York Met One of the first ideas was transferred and has up to now standards in the interpretation of this role. Other well-known roles were, inter alia, Tatiana in Eugene Onegin, Tosca, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Musetta in La Bohème.
After they increasingly had problems with her voice, she sang propagated in operettas and began her second career as a comedian in the film.
She died in Vienna in 1996 and was in an honorary dedicated grave in Vienna's Central Cemetery (Group 40, Number 176) buried. In 2008 in Vienna Landstrasse ( 3rd District ) was the Ljuba - Welitsch - road named after her.
Recordings
- Ljuba Welitsch: Her Historical Live Performances ( The Radio Years )
- The Art of Ljuba Welitsch, Preiser Records, 2002