Luise Reuss-Belce

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Luise Reuß-Belce as Fricka in Bayreuth, 1904

Luise Reuss-Belce (born October 24, 1862 in Vienna ; died March 5, 1945 in Aichach ) was an Austrian - German opera singer ( soprano ). In the last years of her life she worked as an opera director and singing teacher .

Life

Luise Baumann initially appeared under the pseudonym Luise Belce . In 1885 she married the composer and musicologist Eduard Reuss (1851-1911) and now bore the double name under which she became known. Her daughter Elisabeth Reuss († 1940) became a concert singer and teacher; her son Wilhelm Franz Reuss (1886–1945) became a conductor and composer.

She studied in Vienna with Josef Gänsbacher and in Karlsruhe with Fritz Plank (1848–1900). She made her debut at the Karlsruhe Court Theater in 1881 as Elsa in Lohengrin . There she also played other important roles, in premieres such as Kassandra in Les Troyens (1890) and the title role in Ingwelde (1894). Her commitment in Karlsruhe ended in 1896 when her position was filled with a competitor. From 1897 to 1901 she was engaged at the then newly opened Hoftheater Wiesbaden . From 1901 to 1903 she was a member of the Metropolitan Opera in New York. From 1901 to 1907 she appeared at the Dresden Court Opera . In 1884 she made a guest appearance in Munich; 1899 in Amsterdam; 1893 and 1900 at Covent Garden Opera in London. She also appeared in various other places in Germany.

From 1882 to 1912 Reuss-Belce was one of the actors at the Bayreuth Festival , where she initially appeared in various roles; from 1899, however, continuously as Fricka, which was referred to as her brilliant role. It proved to be formative for the style of this Wagner Festival. From 1908 to 1933 she was also dramaturgical assistant for the games.

From 1907 Reuss-Belce only appeared in Bayreuth; from 1912 the now widowed Reuss-Belce could no longer be seen on stage. She now lived in Berlin. She began working as a singing teacher and opera director, in the latter position from 1916 at the Deutsche Oper Berlin . She also worked in Nuremberg after 1913. She ended her career in 1933.

She died in March 1945 while fleeing from the recently bombed city of Dresden . She is said to have been the last singer who still performed under Wagner's direction.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ biography on isoldes-liebestod.net

literature

personal data
SURNAME Reuss-Belce, Luise
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Baumann, Luise (maiden name); Reuss, Luise; Belce, Luise (pseudonym)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian-German opera singer (soprano)
DATE OF BIRTH October 24, 1862
PLACE OF BIRTH Vienna
DATE OF DEATH March 5, 1945
Place of death Aichach