Leonore Schwarz-Neumaier

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Leonore Schwarz-Neumaier , born Leonore Schwarz (born June 23, 1889 in Vienna , † 1942 probably in Majdanek concentration camp , Lublin , Poland ) was an Austrian opera singer (alto).

Life

Work until 1934

Leonore Schwarz was born on June 23, 1889 in Vienna (then Austria-Hungary ). After she had already performed as a singer at public concerts during her school days, she began her vocal training in Vienna in 1905. In 1912 she was hired as an alto at the Graz Opera House , after which she performed in Nuremberg under the conductor Bruno Walter . After a year in Magdeburg , she was appointed first contralto to the Frankfurt Opera in 1917 and stayed there until the end of her operatic career in 1921. Here she celebrated great success not only in numerous Wagner operas , but also among others. a. also as Carmen , as Suzuki in “ Madama Butterfly ”, as Prince Orlofsky in “ Die Fledermaus ”, as Amneris in “ Aida ”, or as Hansel in “ Hansel and Gretel ”.

In 1921 Leonore Schwarz married the Frankfurt merchant Otto Neumaier (for him it was the second marriage) and since then has had the double name Schwarz-Neumaier. After the birth of her son Hans in the same year, she stepped down from the opera stage, but continued to perform as a singer: in concerts (for example with the singers of the Scala in Milan Umberto Urbano and Giovanni Manuritta), to Dr. Hoch's Conservatory and on the radio.

Leonore Schwarz-Neumaier now primarily devoted herself to life in her - as her son later called it - "middle-class Frankfurt family". Although the apartment at Freiherr-vom-Stein-Straße 15 was in the immediate vicinity of the Westend Synagogue , being Jewish did not play a significant role for the Schwarz-Neumaier family.

With the seizure of power by the National Socialists as the all Jewish artists - - the performance possibilities of the acclaimed singer were severely restricted: In 1934 she was allowed only at concerts of the Cultural Association of German Jews and the Association of Jewish Musicians Frankfurt occur.

Failed emigration, deportation and death

Stumbling block in Frankfurt

During the November pogroms of 1938 Otto Neumaier was imprisoned, but because he was 64 years old, he was spared deportation to a camp. The family then decided to emigrate to the USA . In fact, Otto and his son Hans were able to emigrate to the United States in 1940 and 1939, respectively, because a son from Otto's first marriage, Arthur Neumaier, who was already living there, asserted an affidavit (a kind of guarantee). Leonore's departure, however, was refused by the American consul , as Arthur Neumaier, who lived in the USA, was only her stepson and was not considered a direct relative.

Leonore Schwarz-Neumaier was left alone in Frankfurt , had to give up the family apartment and moved into a small room at Liebigstrasse 27b. While she was discussing her property affairs with a Catholic banker , he was arrested by the Secret State Police after denouncing her in her home . When Leonore tried to help him, she was also arrested and refused to return to her apartment.

In June 1942 Leonore Schwarz-Neumaier was probably deported to Poland to the Majdanek extermination camp . It can be assumed that she was murdered there. A stumbling stone in front of the house at Freiherr-vom-Stein-Straße 15 reminds of her today , and her is also commemorated on the plaque on the Frankfurt City Theaters .

literature

  • Hannes Heer , Sven Fritz, Heike Drummer, Jutta Zwilling: Silent voices. The expulsion of the 'Jews' and the 'politically intolerable' from the Hessian theaters 1933 to 1945. Metropol, Berlin 2011, ISBN 3-86331-013-6 , p. 380 f .

Web links

Individual evidence

(Sources see web links)

  1. ↑ a b c City of Frankfurt
  2. ↑ a b c d drummer, twin

Remarks

  1. ↑ Depending on the source, either the banker (drummer, twin) or the Leonore Schwarz-Neumaiers (city of Frankfurt) were denounced.
personal data
SURNAME Schwarz-Neumaier, Leonore
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Schwarz, Leonore (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian opera singer (alto)
DATE OF BIRTH June 23, 1889
PLACE OF BIRTH Vienna , Austria
DATE OF DEATH 1942
Place of death uncertain: Majdanek concentration camp , Poland