Mimi Coertse

Mimi Coertse ( born June 12, 1932 in Durban, South Africa; actually Maria Sophia Coertse ) is a South African and Austrian soprano opera singer since 1966. She was the first internationally acclaimed opera singer on their continent.

Life and career

Coertse comes from a long-established farming family. She is Danish from the father side, mother's side she is descended from a French Huguenot family. She began her vocal studies in South Africa Amée Parkerson in 1949, your further education she graduated from in Europe. Starting in September 1953 in London, then briefly in The Hague and from January 27, 1954 in Vienna with Maria Hittorff and at the same time at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts at the opera class at Josef Witt. With a performance of the opera class at the Schoenbrunn Palace Theatre on July 1, 1955 " Ariadne auf Naxos " and Mimi Coertse as Zerbinetta her stage career began.

The Vienna Academy of Music and Performing Arts presented mid July 1955 their graduates in an opera concert in Bad Aussee, Coertse sang arias of Zerbinetta, Queen of the Night, the Traviata; Conductor was Hans Swarovsky. - After the completion Academy recommended director Egon Seefehlner the young singer " ... nowhere else to complete, the Vienna State Opera, with its large repertoire system will call you. "

With 23 years Coertse was the youngest permanent ensemble member of the Vienna State Opera, and therefore part of the famous singers ensembles ( Mozart Ensemble ). Her first role - with a guest performance by the State Opera at the Teatro San Carlo of Naples - was the first flower girl in "Parsifal" by Karl Böhm. After that, he dedicated it to the State Opera. In this, the largest opera house in Italy years later she sang with Giuseppe di Stefano, the " Merry Widow".

On March 17, 1956 Mimi Coertse made ​​her debut at the Vienna State Opera as Queen of the Night in "The Magic Flute " by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London ( with Joan Sutherland as first lady ) followed. About 500 times she sang this part in five languages ​​in many countries, in Vienna alone in 61 performances. This was followed by performances as Queen of the Night in Basel, San Carlo in Naples ( where Vittorio Gui had brought them), at the Festival d' Aix -en- Provence in the courtyard of the Archbishop's Palace, the Théâtre de l' Archevêché and the Athens Festival, where she had to appear in the ancient arena in large spatial distance to the conductor and orchestra.

Their debut role as a member of the ensemble was the Konstanze in " Abduction from the Seraglio ." In this role Coertse Mimi had sold more than three hundred performances, about 1956 at the Salzburg Festival, with George Szell conducting. In Vienna, there were 102 performances in the new production on 4 October 1965, the conductor Josef Krips Fritz Wunderlich was her partner in the role of Belmonte.

In a series of performances of the opera " Carmen " in 1957, conductor Herbert von Karajan, with Jean Madeira, Giuseppe di Stefano, George London and Hilde Güden Mimi Coertse sang Frasquita. In the same year she performed at the Glyndebourne Festival as a member of Covent Garden in the role of Zerbinetta in on " Ariadne auf Naxos " by Richard Strauss.

In the double premiere of " The Tales of Hoffmann " at the Vienna State Opera in October 1957, she sang both times under Antonino Votto the doll " Olympia". In the opening night of the Opera House in Johannesburg in 1962, she created the first time all four female roles at Hoffmann in Afrikaans. Under Otto Schenk Director Mimi Coertse 1967 sang at the Vienna State Opera all women to " Hoffmann " as the Irmgard Seefried and Anja Silja had done before her.

Coertse was known for their reliability and commitment in smaller batches. The brief appearance of Fiakermilli in the " Arabella " by Richard Strauss with the dreaded yodeling she created from 1959 to 1973 in all new productions in 25 performances. The First Angel in " Palestrina " by Hans Pfitzner, she sang in 1956 with the takeover of the Theater an der Wien in the direction of their teacher Josef Witt until 1973, until their departure, in 19 performances.

The Graz Opera House took on her account from November 1960 Gaetano Donizetti's " Lucia di Lammermoor " on the game board. Mimi Coertse sang an acclaimed by critics and audiences of performances. Was similarly successful Coertses Grazer appearance in the title role of Bellini's "Norma", premiered on January 13, 1962. Subsequently Coertse sang Lucia in the Vienna Volksoper. Premiere was on 16 February 1965 Conductor was Argeo Quadri, in the role of Alisa Hilde Konetzni. As Edgardo was Alfredo Kraus singing one of their most important partners.

They also devoted himself to the operetta, from 1960 two summers in the ball room of the Vienna Hofburg as Hanna Glawari in "The Merry Widow", with Danilo Johannes Heesters, then also with Eberhard Waechter. In the opening performance at the Theater an der Wien - after years of restoration - on July 17, 1962 Mimi Coertse sang for the first time in Vienna Rosalinde in "Die Fledermaus " by Johann Strauss. Previously, a few times in Barcelona, ​​after one of her signature roles. The premiere of "Spring Parade" by Robert Stolz on March 25, 1964 and some ideas then, Mimi Coertse sang the singer Hansi Gruber at the Vienna Volksoper.

Coertse was also active as a musical singer. In the large studio of the Broadcasting House Vienna took place in April 1963, the first performance of Leonard Bernstein's musical " Candide" in German language instead. In the broadcasting Adapted and directed by Marcel Prawy with the orchestra and choir of Radio Vienna and the musical direction of Samuel Krachmalnick read Voltaire's novella, among others, the Burgtheater actor Blanche Aubry, Heinrich Schweiger, and it sang Rudolf Christ and Mimi Coertse.

Your comic talent was Mimi Coertse as Concepcion in Ravel's "Spanish Hour", directed by Otto Schenk bring to bear. Premiere was on 20 October 1964 in the Vienna Volksoper, conductor Peter Maag, German version of Marcel Prawy, stage by Günther Schneider- Siemssen, with Michel Senechal as Gonzalvo, Oscar Ramiro Czerwenka and Marcel Cordes as Don Inigo Gomez. This idea was filmed under Schenk Director for Austrian television Due to the large success.

On March 1, 1968 " The Silent Woman " by Richard Strauss for the first time was given at the Vienna State Opera. Conductor was Silvio Varviso, the staging of Hans Hotter leaned against the performance of the Salzburg Festival in 1959, where he designed the Sir Morosus. It sang Oskar Czerwenka, William Blankenship, Robert Kerns, Hilde Rossel - Maidan, Renate Holm, and in the title role Mimi Coertse. As a result, Coertse profiled particularly as Strauss roles.

For a strong success came her debut as a slave Liu in Puccini's Turandot, singing the title role Birgit Nilsson, James King Prince Calaf.

Coertses last roles in Strauss- productions of the State Opera in 1971, the Aethra in the " Egyptian Helena ", conductor Ernst Märzendorfer, with Gwyneth Jones, Jess Thomas and on 1 April 1972, the Daphne, conductor Horst Stein, as with the very young Edita Gruberova Hermione.

Marcel Prawy was at the Vienna Volksoper since 1955 dramaturge. In 1972, he should be an opera director of the Vienna State Opera, the then Minister Leopold Gratz but withdrew before Rudolf Gamsjager. Prawy was "only" chief dramaturge of the Opera House. He planned a Huguenot production, among other things, with Mimi Coertse; nothing came of it.

Under Gamsjager was a reduction of the ensemble. On 27 January 1973 ended with their 102 " Abduction from the Seraglio" after 468 performances in 26 games Mimi Coertses years in Vienna.

Only the subsequent Directorate under Egon Seefehlner organized a worthy conclusion. On December 14, 1978, opera singer Mimi Coertse presented at their farewell performance with a debut as Elizabeth of Valois in Verdi's " Don Carlos ". Conductor was Berislav Klobučar, Simon Estes sang King Philip II

Artistic review

In our memory is primarily an unmistakable timbre, a sweet, but never sentimental voice. This voice could credibly convey women's lives, situations, emotions. The distraction of Lucia, the despair of Norma, the grief of Constance, the doll- threatening Olympia or the dread of Violetta Valery were able to take the audience to be afraid to stir, when Mimi Coertse these roles sang and showed. And their Nedda and Fiakermilli, her Gilda and Donna Anna and and .... I find myself more and more that I always come up with new roles that were played by Mimi Coertse. It is because of them went to the opera, because you wanted to hear this soulful, intimate, virtuosic singing again and again.

Karl Löbl, culture editor of an era, the last chief of the Department of Culture in the ORF.

Concerts (excerpt)

• April 1957/1958 in the concert hall house, Johann Sebastian Bach: "St. Matthew Passion", conductor Hans Gilles Berger, for the first time Fritz Wunderlich sang in Vienna, together with Julius Patzak
• August 1957 recital at the Palais Pallavicini, diagnosis: Big career .. Mimi Coertses voice that resonates fascinating Something - you like it now color, soul, or whatever name - which is found only in the elect of the subject.
• April 10, 1958 Concert Hall, Great Hall, Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2, " Resurrection " Symphony, conductor Lorin Maazel, Mimi Coertse, Christa Ludwig. Vienna Singing Academy, Vienna Symphony Orchestra.
• June 9, 1958 for the first time in the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein, Gustav Mahler: " Symphony No. 8", conductor Hans Swarovsky, including with Christa Ludwig, Eberhard Waechter, Oskar Czerwenka.
• June 22, 1958 Great Hall of the Musikverein, Werner Egk: "Irish Legend ", conductor Werner Egk, with Julius Patzak, Walter Berry, Mimi Coertse, Vienna Singing Academy and Philharmonia Hungarica.
• December 14, 1958 in Graz Stephanie Hall, Franz Schmidt: " The Book with Seven Seals", conductor Anton lip, Julius Patzak, Erich Majkut, Otto Wiener.
• April 12, 1959 Stephanie Hall, George Frideric Handel: " The Messiah ," Anton lip, Mimi Coertse, Marga Höffgen, Anton Dermota, Kim Borg.
• May 14, 1959 Vienna Musikverein Großer Saal, Berg, Schoenberg and Honegger: Symphonic Pieces from the opera " Lulu ", " The dance around the golden calf " and " A Dance of Death " with conductor Heinrich Hollreiser, Mimi Coertse, Sonja Draksler, Otto Wiener, Karl Wiener, Robert Charlebois, as spokesman Klaus Kinski, Sing Association of the society of Friends of Music, Vienna Symphony Orchestra.
• December 4, 1959 Festspielhaus Salzburg, Georg Friedrich Handel: " The Messiah ", choirmaster Hans -Joachim Rotzsch, Mimi Coertse, Hilde Roser, Matti Lehtinen, Organ Franz Sauer, Mozarteum Orchestra
• 1960 Laeiszhalle, Joseph Haydn: "The Seasons", conductor Robert Wagner, Rudolf Schock, Mimi Coertse and Kieth Engen.
• August 28, 1960 Salzburg Festival Rock Riding School, Gustav Mahler: " Symphony No. 8", conductor Dimitri Mitropoulos, the Vienna Philharmonic.
• March 3, 1961 Konzerthaus Mozart Hall, George Frideric Handel: " Solomon ", conductor Hans Gilles Berger, in the role of the queen with Kostas Paskalis than Solomon, Kurt Equiluz.
• May 9, 1962 Vienna Musikverein, Joseph Haydn: "The Seasons", conductor Heinz Wallberg, with Waldemar Kmentt.
• November 18, 1964 Berlin Philharmonic, Johann Sebastian Bach: Mass in B minor BWV 232, conductor Mathieu Lange, Mimi Coertse, Raili Kostia, Hans Ulrich Mielsch, Hans Wilbrink, Wolfgang Meyer, organ, Berlin Philharmonic, the Sing-Akademie.
• May 1965 Stephansdom Wien, Anton Bruckner " Te Deum " for soloists, choir and organ, soprano
• June 8, 1965 concert House Great Hall, Arthur Honegger: " Saint Joan at the stake ", as Virgin, Irmgard Seefried with Gerhard Stolze
• July 27, 1965 Bregenz Festival, Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, conductor Wolfgang Sawallisch, Mimi Coertse, Hilde Rossel - Maidan, Karl Terkal and Herbert Lackner
• May 29, 1967 Concert Hall Great Hall, Gustav Mahler: " The Song of Lamentation ", conductor Günther Theuring
• December 13, 1967 Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna 150 years. Songs and aria recital, at the piano Hans Dokoupil.
• April 8, 1968 Large studio of the Austrian Radio in Vienna, Stabat Mater by Karol Szymanowski and Tommaso Traetta, for soloists, mixed choir and orchestra, conductor Dietfried Bernet, Mimi Coertse, Hilde Rossel - Maidan, Ladislaus Anderko, Chorus Gottfried Preinfalk. Both on CD.
• 1969 Large studio of the Austrian Radio in Vienna, Carl Orff: Carmina Burana Carmina and Catulli. Conductor Miltiades Caridis, Mimi Coertse, Kurt Equiliuz and Ernst Gutstein.
• December 5, 1969 Minoritenkirche Vienna, "Mozart 's Requiem " with the Bachgemeinde Vienna, conductor Julius Peter, organist Rudolf Scholz
• May 17, 1988 Stefaniensaal, Joseph Haydn: "The Creation", Conductor Alois J. Hochstrasser
• April 12, 1991 Stefaniensaal, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: " Elias "

Quote Mimi Coertse

Discography (excerpt)

• Johann Sebastian Bach: " Magnificat ", conductor Felix Prohaska, Mimi Coertse, Margaret Sjostedt, Hilde Rossel - Maidan, Anton Dermota, Frederic Guthrie, LP: Bach Guild, CD. Vanguard OVC 2010 Vienna 1957.
• Haydn: "The Creation", conductor Jascha Horenstein, Gabriel and Eve - Mimi Coertse, Uriel - Julius Patzak, Raphael and Adam - Dezso Ernster, Vienna Volksoper Orchestra, Sing Association of Friends of Music Society. turnabout records TV 34184/5 S
• Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2 - Resurrection, conductor Hermann Scherchen, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Mimi Coertse and Lucretia West, Decca
• Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 8, " Symphony of a Thousand ", conductor Dimitri Mitropoulos, Mimi Coertse, Hilde Zadek, Lucretia West, Ira Malaniuk, Giuseppe Zampieri, Hermann Prey, Otto Edelmann, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Boys' Choir.
• Mozart: " Bastien and Bastienne ", conductor Wolfgang Ebert, Bastien - Eva Düske, Bastienne - Mimi Coertse, Colas - Horst Günter. Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, turnabout records 4053/TV TV 34053S
• Mozart: " The Impresario ", conductor André Rieu, Madame Heart - Mimi Coertse, Mademoiselle silver sound - Christa Degler, Monsieur Vogelsang - Waldemar Kmentt, Buff - Jacques Villisech, Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera in 1963, Decca
• Mozart: " The Magic Flute" in Italian, live / Naples, conductor Vittorio Gui, Sena Jurinac, Juan Oncina, Giuseppe Taddei, Boris Christoff, International Mozarteum Foundation Salzburg CD: House of Opera ALD3013
• Giovanni Pergolesi. Stabat Mater, Vienna 1957 Organ: Anton Heiller, soprano Mimi Coertse, Old Hilde Rossel - Maidan, tenor Anton Dermota, bass Frederick Guthrie, conductor Felix Prohaska, Vienna State Opera Orchestra, Vienna State Opera Chorus.
• Hans Pfitzner: " Palestrina ", conductor Robert Heger, Fritz Wunderlich, Otto Wiener, Sena Jurinac, Christa Ludwig, Mimi Coertse ( 1 angel ), Vienna Philharmonic 1964 CD: RCA 74321 795 982 - excerpts
• Giacomo Puccini: " La Boheme ", conductor Francesco Molinari - Pradelli, Hilde Güden, Gianni Raimondi, Frederick Guthrie, Musetta Mimi Coertse, Wiener Staatsoper live.
• Robert Stolz: "Spring Parade", Conductor: Robert Stolz, Mimi Coertse, Guggi Löwinger, Peter Minich, Erich Kuchar, Fred Liewehr, Choir and Orchestra of the Vienna Volksoper.
• Richard Strauss: " The Egyptian Helen ", conductor Josef Krips, Gwyneth Jones, Jess Tomas, Peter Schreier, Mimi Coertse, Margarita Lilowa, Vienna Philharmonic 1970 CD: RCA 74321 694 292 (2CD)
• Richard Strauss: " Arabella ", conductor Georg Solti Arabella - Lisa Della Casa, Zdenka - Hilde Güden, Mandryka - George London, Matteo - Anton Dermota Fiakermilli - Mimi Coertse, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Decca
• Richard Strauss " Ariadne auf Naxos ", conductor Erich Leinsdorf, Leonie Rysanek - The Prima Donna - Ariadne, Roberta Peters - Zerbinetta Jan Peerce - The Tenor - Bacchus, Sena Jurinac - The composer, Mimi Coertse - Naiad, .. Vienna Philharmonic in July in 1958. Decca
• Ambroise Thomas ' Mignon ', conductor Peter Maag, Hertha Topper, Rudolf Schock, Gottlob Frick, Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra. relief
• Giuseppe Verdi: "Rigoletto", conductor Argeo Quadri, Duke of Mantua - Waldemar Kmentt, Rigoletto - Walter Berry, Gilda - Mimi Coertse, Maddalena - Sonja Draksler. Vienna Volksoper Orchestra, cross-section. Baccarola Elite 80 004 ZR.
• Verdi: "Rigoletto", conductor Mario Rossi, Libero De Luca, Josef Metternich, Mimi Coertse, Gottlob Frick, Ira Malaniuk, Cologne Radio Orchestra in 1956, Valhalla - WLCD0193 (CD - 2 discs)
• Antonio Vivaldi: " Gloria in D Major," conductor Hermann Scherchen, Mimi Coertse, Ina Dressel, Sonja Draxler, Vienna State Opera Orchestra - Trumpet Concertos. Rediscovery stereo RD 010
• Viennese songs with Hans Moser, Peter Alexander, Paul Hörbiger, Cissy Kraner, Hermann Leopoldi, .. Mimi Coertse sings Robert Stolz: In Prater bloom again the trees.

Mimi Coertse left the Vienna Opera House radiant, holding her phenomenal voice (quote Marcel Prawy ). To document this, they established the following CDs from:

• Mimi Coertse sings Mozart and Strauss. The two arias of Donna Anna in " Don Giovanni " - Or sai chi l' onore, Crudele .. Non mi dir. Mozart's motet " Exsultate Jubilate ". Strauss ' Four Last Songs " and the final song " Salome ". The recordings were performed at concerts in South Africa in the years 1973 to 1980.

Honors

Sources and Literature

• Karl J. Kutsch and Leo belt: Large Sängerlexikon. Third, expanded edition. . Munich 1999 Volume 1: Aarden -Davis, p 663
• Invitation of the Friends of the Vienna State Opera on January 1, 1990: Opera Workshop with opera singer Mimi Coertse in the Marble Hall of the Vienna State Opera.

• Franz grass Lothar Berger and Knessl: One Hundred Years of Golden Hall. Society of Friends of Music in Vienna, Vienna 1970.
• Lothar Knessl: Karl Böhm at the Vienna State Opera, a documentary. Austrian Federal Theatres, Vienna 1981.
• Werner Pfister: Fritz Wunderlich, Biography. Swiss publishing house 1990, ISBN 3-7263-6612-1.
• Harald Hoyer: Chronicle of the Vienna State Opera 1945-1995, shows, occupations, artists directory. Austrian Federal Theatres, Vienna 1995.
• Helmuth Furch: Releases of the Museum and Cultural Association Kaisersteinbruch.

• Helmuth Furch, Eva Hilda Smolik and Elfriede Werthan: opera singer Mimi Coertse, a Viennese woman from South Africa. With a foreword by Marcel Prawy and a personal letter from Christl Schönfeld, their "Wiener Mummy " and organizer of the Vienna Opera Ball, Vienna 2002.
• Karl Löbl: The balcony Leo, 60 years ... Mimi Coertse: sweet sensuality. Seifert Verlag, Wien, 2013, ISBN 978-3-902924-00-1, pp. 160f.
• Karl Löbl: After the premieres. My life in and with the opera. What all can be of a queen. then soon came a queen from South Africa: Mimi Coertse. In 1956 she has with this game, as it were to triple its debut the same as Konstanze and Olympia ... Seifert Verlag, Wien, 2013, ISBN 978-3-902924-06-3, pp. 125f.