Amalie Materna (born Amalia, later Amalie Friedrich-Materna) (10 July 1844 St. Georgen in der Steiermark – 18 January 1918 Vienna) was an Austrian operaticdramatic soprano. While possessing a famously powerful voice, Materna also maintained a youthful bright vocal timbre throughout her career which spanned three decades. She is best remembered today for originating several roles in operas by Richard Wagner.
Materna made her professional opera début at the Thalia Theatre in Graz in 1865. She then married Karl Friedrich, an actor, and was engaged with him singing operettas in suburban theatres near Vienna, and at the Carltheater in Vienna. She made her debut at the Vienna State Opera in 1869, singing Selika in L'Africaine. Popularly received, Materna became a regular performer at the Vienna court for the next 25 years. Her notable performances include Amneris in the first Vienna performance of Aida in 1874 and the title role at the première of Goldmark's Die Königin von Saba (10 March 1875).
Materna was perhaps most admired for her interpretations of the works of Richard Wagner. She sang the role of Brünnhilde in the first complete Ring Cycle in Bayreuth (1876), appearing also in the first Vienna performances of Die Walküre (1877) and Siegfried (1878), and in the first Ring Cycle in Berlin at the Victoria Theatre (1881). In 1882 she originated the role of Kundry in Parsifal at Bayreuth, repeating the role there at every festival until 1891.
In 1884, Materna toured the United States with Hermann Winkelmann and Emil Scaria. She joined the Metropolitan Opera roster the following year making her début on 5 January 1885 as Elisabeth in Tannhäuser. Her other roles at the Met included Valentine in Les Huguenots, Rachel in La juive and Brünnhilde in Die Walküre. Writing in The New York Times, W. J. Henderson described her Brünnhilde as "a portrayal of world-wide celebrity and her impressive scenes with Siegmund and Wotan last night – scenes in which her deep feeling, expressive tones, and majestic appearance...told quite as strongly as the beauty and volume of her voice, were awaited with a confidence that was fully justified by the event."[1]
She returned to Vienna later in 1885 and appeared in numerous productions there for the next nine years. Her final performance in Vienna was as Elisabeth on 31 December 1894. After her retirement she taught singing in Vienna, where she made one last public appearance in 1913, singing Kundry at a concert commemorating the centenary of Wagner's birth.
Gallery of rolesedit
Kundry in Parsifal (Bayreuth, 1882)
Brünnhilde in the Ring Cycle (Bayreuth, 1876)
Elisabeth in Tannhäuser (Metropolitan Opera, 1885)
Ortrud in Lohengrin (Vienna)
Rachel in La Juive
The Queen in The Queen of Sheba
Referencesedit
^Henderson, W. J. "Met Performance CID:3450 – Die Walküre {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/30/1885". MetOpera Database.
Sourcesedit
Elizabeth Forbes: "Amalie Materna", Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed October 20, 2008), (subscription access) 2008-05-16 at the Wayback Machine
Media related to Amalie Materna at Wikimedia Commons
Amalie Friedrich-Materna: North American Theatre Online
December 15, 2023
amalie, materna, born, amalia, later, amalie, friedrich, materna, july, 1844, georgen, steiermark, january, 1918, vienna, austrian, operatic, dramatic, soprano, while, possessing, famously, powerful, voice, materna, also, maintained, youthful, bright, vocal, t. Amalie Materna born Amalia later Amalie Friedrich Materna 10 July 1844 St Georgen in der Steiermark 18 January 1918 Vienna was an Austrian operatic dramatic soprano While possessing a famously powerful voice Materna also maintained a youthful bright vocal timbre throughout her career which spanned three decades She is best remembered today for originating several roles in operas by Richard Wagner Amalie Materna Contents 1 Career 2 Gallery of roles 3 References 4 Sources 5 External linksCareer editMaterna made her professional opera debut at the Thalia Theatre in Graz in 1865 She then married Karl Friedrich an actor and was engaged with him singing operettas in suburban theatres near Vienna and at the Carltheater in Vienna She made her debut at the Vienna State Opera in 1869 singing Selika in L Africaine Popularly received Materna became a regular performer at the Vienna court for the next 25 years Her notable performances include Amneris in the first Vienna performance of Aida in 1874 and the title role at the premiere of Goldmark s Die Konigin von Saba 10 March 1875 Materna was perhaps most admired for her interpretations of the works of Richard Wagner She sang the role of Brunnhilde in the first complete Ring Cycle in Bayreuth 1876 appearing also in the first Vienna performances of Die Walkure 1877 and Siegfried 1878 and in the first Ring Cycle in Berlin at the Victoria Theatre 1881 In 1882 she originated the role of Kundry in Parsifal at Bayreuth repeating the role there at every festival until 1891 In 1884 Materna toured the United States with Hermann Winkelmann and Emil Scaria She joined the Metropolitan Opera roster the following year making her debut on 5 January 1885 as Elisabeth in Tannhauser Her other roles at the Met included Valentine in Les Huguenots Rachel in La juive and Brunnhilde in Die Walkure Writing in The New York Times W J Henderson described her Brunnhilde as a portrayal of world wide celebrity and her impressive scenes with Siegmund and Wotan last night scenes in which her deep feeling expressive tones and majestic appearance told quite as strongly as the beauty and volume of her voice were awaited with a confidence that was fully justified by the event 1 She returned to Vienna later in 1885 and appeared in numerous productions there for the next nine years Her final performance in Vienna was as Elisabeth on 31 December 1894 After her retirement she taught singing in Vienna where she made one last public appearance in 1913 singing Kundry at a concert commemorating the centenary of Wagner s birth Gallery of roles edit nbsp Kundry in Parsifal Bayreuth 1882 nbsp Brunnhilde in the Ring Cycle Bayreuth 1876 nbsp Elisabeth in Tannhauser Metropolitan Opera 1885 nbsp Ortrud in Lohengrin Vienna nbsp Rachel in La Juive nbsp The Queen in The Queen of ShebaReferences edit Henderson W J Met Performance CID 3450 Die Walkure 1 Metropolitan Opera House 01 30 1885 MetOpera Database Sources editElizabeth Forbes Amalie Materna Grove Music Online ed L Macy Accessed October 20 2008 subscription access Archived 2008 05 16 at the Wayback Machine Wilson J G Fiske J eds 1900 Materna Amalie Appletons Cyclopaedia of American Biography New York D Appleton Bio at Great Singers of the PastExternal links edit nbsp Media related to Amalie Materna at Wikimedia Commons Amalie Friedrich Materna North American Theatre Online Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Amalie Materna amp oldid 1186873884, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
