Lyuba Welitsch

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Ljuba Welitsch, 1934

Ljuba Welitsch , actually Veličkova (born July 10, 1913 in Borissowo near Popowo , Bulgaria , † September 1, 1996 in Vienna ), was a Bulgarian-Austrian opera singer ( soprano ) and actress. Despite her relatively short career, she is counted by critics as one of the most important singers of the 20th century.

Life

After studying in Sofia and Vienna, Ljuba Welitsch made her debut in Sofia in 1936 . Engagements in Graz (1937–40), Hamburg and Munich followed . 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 the major opera houses and at the Salzburg Festival .

The title role in Richard Strauss ' Salome was one of the most defining roles of her career. In 1944 she sang the part for the composer's 80th birthday under his direction. She also made her debut as Salome in 1947 at Covent Garden in London and in 1949 at the New York Met. One of the first performances was broadcast and continues to set standards in the interpretation of this role to this day. Other well-known roles include Tatjana in Eugene Onegin , Tosca , Donna Anna in Don Giovanni , Musetta in La Bohème .

After she got increasingly problems with her voice, she sang more and more in operetta productions and started her second career as a comedian in film. Ljuba Welitsch was temporarily married to a traffic police officer, the Viennese original Karl Schmalvogl , known because of his elegant gestures as “Karajan of the Opera Crossing” .

Grave at the central cemetery

She died in Vienna in 1996 and was buried in an honorary grave in the Vienna Central Cemetery (group 40, number 176). In 2008, Ljuba-Welitsch-Strasse in Vienna- Landstrasse (3rd district) was named after her.

Recordings

  • Richard Strauss: Salome, Metropolitan Opera New York, under Fritz Reiner , 1949 and 1952
  • Ljuba Welitsch: Her Historical Live Performances (The Radio Years)
  • The Art of Ljuba Welitsch, Preiser Records, 2002

Filmography (selection)

Ljuba Welitsch, 1939

literature

  • Norbert Ernst Benke: Ljuba Welitsch . Edition Vienna, 1994

Web links

Commons : Ljuba Welitsch  - collection of images, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Welitsch, Ljuba
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Veličkova, Ljuba (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Bulgarian-Austrian opera singer (soprano) and actress
DATE OF BIRTH July 10, 1913
PLACE OF BIRTH Borissowo near Popowo , Bulgaria
DATE OF DEATH September 1, 1996
Place of death Vienna