Gertrud Elisabeth Mara facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gertrud Elisabeth Mara
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Gertrud Elisabeth Mara, by Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun
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Gertrud Elisabeth Schmeling
23 February 1749 |
| Died | 20 January 1833 (aged 83) |
| Nationality | German |
| Occupation | operatic soprano. |
Gertrud Elisabeth Mara (born Schmeling) was a famous German opera singer. She was a soprano, which means she had a very high singing voice. She was born on February 23, 1749, and passed away on January 20, 1833.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Talent
Gertrud Elisabeth Schmeling was born in Kassel, Germany. Her father, Johann Schmeling, was a musician, but his family was not wealthy. From a young age, Gertrud learned to play the violin from her father.
She was incredibly talented. Even as a child, her violin playing at a fair in Frankfurt was so amazing that people collected money to help her get a proper education.
Becoming a Soprano
With the help of important friends, Gertrud went to Leipzig to study music. For five years, she trained under a famous teacher named Johann Adam Hiller. During this time, her incredible soprano singing voice became clear.
She started performing for the public in 1771. Soon, everyone agreed that she was the best singer Germany had ever seen.
Career and Challenges
Gertrud Elisabeth Mara became a permanent singer for the Prussian court in Berlin. This was a very important job! However, her marriage to a cellist named Mara caused some problems. Because of these difficulties, she was allowed to leave her position in 1780.
Traveling and Performing
After leaving Berlin, Gertrud Elisabeth Mara sang in many other cities, including Vienna and Munich. In 1782, she performed in Paris, France. There, she became part of a friendly competition with another singer named Luísa Todi. People in Paris even chose sides, calling themselves Todists or Maratists!
In 1784, she traveled to London, England. She performed there many times and was very successful. She also made trips to Italy and Paris until 1802.
Later Years and Retirement
Around 1802, Gertrud Elisabeth Mara decided to retire for a few years and moved to Russia. Sadly, she lost all her money during the French invasion of Russia.
She visited England again in 1819, but after that, she stopped performing on stage. She moved to Livonia (which is now part of Estonia and Latvia). There, she became a music teacher in Reval. Gertrud Elisabeth Mara passed away in 1833, living in very difficult financial conditions. She was buried in Kopli cemetery.
