Elisabeth Steiner (singer)

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Elisabeth Steiner, 1978

Elisabeth Steiner (born March 17, 1935 in Berlin ; † November 29, 2006 ) was a German opera and lieder singer ( mezzo-soprano ).

Life

Born and raised in Berlin, Elisabeth Steiner studied after graduating from high school in 1954 at the Lichterfelder Goethe-Gymnasium at the Berlin University of Music with the aim of becoming a pianist. In addition to piano (with Hans Beltz ), singing was initially only her second major, on which, however - not least at the urging of her teacher Frida Leider - she concentrated fully after four semesters.

During her studies (also with other singing teachers such as Richard Sengeleitner , Harry Gottschalk and Margarete Bärwinkel ) she already gave concerts and was a scholarship holder of the “German National Academic Foundation”. While still a music student, she made her celebrated opera debut at the Deutsche Oper Berlin (in her last year of study) ; this already in a leading role (sister Wanda in Rosamunde Floris by Boris Blacher ), after which she was hired by Rolf Liebermann as a lyrical mezzo-soprano at the Hamburg State Opera in 1961 . Also in 1961 she had three appearances at the Bayreuth Festival .

She made her debut in Hamburg as Niklaus in Hoffmann's Stories and appeared in other trouser roles such as Cherubin, Octavian, Hansel etc. After several guest appearances in Copenhagen, the Hamburger Abendblatt wrote in 1964:

"For many Copenhageners, the Hamburg Opera is a place of pilgrimage and Elisabeth Steiner something like an ambassador for German culture."

- Hamburger Abendblatt, July 18, 1964

Within the Hamburg ensemble, she has sung all of the major roles in her vocal field, but only a few times her brilliant role, Carmen . About this, her Hamburg Carmen was in the opera magazine Orpheus 1972:

“... Elisabeth Steiner turned out to be an ideal cast for the title role from every point of view. Due to the unity of the representation and not least because of her eminently good appearance, one can without hesitation describe her as the Carmen of today and tomorrow ... "

- Orpheus, 1972

Elisabeth Steiner made guest appearances at various German and foreign opera houses and gave concerts and recitals. In the 1970s they made numerous television appearances popular, e.g. B. with Anneliese Rothenberger , René Kollo , Hermann Prey , Harald Juhnke and a total of four times in the Blauer Bock . She was involved in various world premieres at the Hamburg State Opera , for example in 1964 in the opera Der goldene Bock by Ernst Krenek , in Gottfried von Einems Der Zerrissene (1964), in incidents during an emergency landing by Boris Blacher (1966), then in 1969 in the world premiere of Die Teufel von Loudun by Penderecki (in the film version of which the staged nude scene of her supporting role was taken over by a double ). Three further world premieres with her participation followed in 1970: The state of siege by Milko Kelemen , That comes from it by Ernst Krenek and Ein Stern geht auf aus Jaakob by Paul Burkhard ; finally in 1973 under the milk forest by Walter Steffens .

On June 7, 1973 Elisabeth Steiner was appointed chamber singer by the Hamburg Senate . She remained a permanent member of the Hamburg State Opera for almost 40 years: until her last performance in March 2000 as Flora Bervoix in La traviata .

Career finale 1977–1980

A persistent allergy to the vocal cords, which had already started in Elisabeth Steiner's student days, worsened over the years and finally made it possible for her to perform longer performances only with constant cortisone administration, increasingly robbed her of the necessary joy in singing; thus every impulse to strive for a career appropriate to your requirements. Nevertheless, at the end of the 1970s, there were still a few opportunities to prove her skills in various places. This, for example, in two ARD television productions, Martha (director: Arno Assmann) and the song cycle Les nuits d´été (with the NDR symphony orchestra under Aldo Ceccato).

After a coincidental guest appearance at the Vienna Volksoper as Carmen in January 1976, she became an exuberantly celebrated Mignon of a new production there. About it was written in the world of March 12, 1977:

“Chamber singer Elisabeth Steiner had a huge success with the public and the press in Vienna as Mignon [...] so the critic of the Wiener Kurier wrote exuberantly about Ms. Steiner u. a .: '[...] this discovery, this magnificent voice, acting talent that looks equally dazzling in trousers and skirts.' "

In 1977, 1978 and 1980 Elisabeth Steiner gave a few more recitals. In addition u. a.

“... Anyone who was there can be sure that they have met one of the most beautiful mezzo-sopranos that one can hear today. A wonderful voice with instrumental empathy "

- Kiel News, October 17, 1978

"... With a voice as powerful and full as her curly hair, Elisabeth Steiner inspired the audience at her recital ... ... this exact intonation, this balanced coloring and guidance of the voice, this clear pronunciation - wonderful!"

- Hamburger Abendblatt, November 1, 1978

Ultimately, in addition to her voice and performance, the appearance of this artist was also noticed in the media.

"... Elisabeth Steiner, not a theater cat, but the archetype of a beautiful young woman of overwhelming charm and magic"

- Hamburger Abendblatt, March 29, 1974

“... There are women who are completely numb to look at, but who appear sobering during a conversation. The case of Elisabeth Steiner - the charming mezzo-soprano of the Hamburg State Opera - stunned in every way. If a woman is to be called sensational, it is at least she ... "

- Berlingske Tidende, October 21, 1963

Sickness and death

After her retirement, as a faithful Catholic from childhood, she sang even more often in the Elmshorn Church of St. Mary and also played the organ there as long as an incurable disease allowed it. What professional problems had never triggered for her, that she lost the "contagious" zest for life that is characteristic of her, happened through the situation of her beloved daughter, who had returned sick from abroad years before and whose condition became chronic. Seriously ill herself at the end of 2001, she avoided hospital stays as much as possible and spent the last five years of her life at home, cared for by her husband alone.

Elisabeth Steiner had two children; she was married to her husband, whom she met in 1956 at the Berlin Music Academy, for 44 years.

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Biography on the page of the Bayreuth Festival
  2. ↑ http://www.archiv.abendblatt.de/ha/1964/.../ASV_HAB_19640718_HA_029.pdf
  3. ↑ http://www.archiv.abendblatt.de/ha/1974/xml/.../habxml740103_9293.xml
personal data
SURNAME Steiner, Elisabeth
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German opera and chamber singer
DATE OF BIRTH March 17, 1935
PLACE OF BIRTH Berlin
DATE OF DEATH November 29, 2006