Hilde Zadek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hilde Zadek
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| Born | 15 December 1917 Bromberg, Province of Posen
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| Died | 21 February 2019 (aged 101) Karlsruhe, Germany
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| Organization | Vienna State Opera |
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Hildegard Zadek (born December 15, 1917 – died February 21, 2019) was a famous German opera singer. She was a soprano, which means she had a high singing voice. She performed in many operas around the world. Her main stage was the Vienna State Opera in Austria, where she was given the special title of Kammersängerin.
Early Life and Moving
Hildegard Zadek was born in a place called Bromberg on December 15, 1917. This area is now part of Poland. After World War I, her family moved to Stettin in 1920, which is now in Germany. Hildegard grew up there.
However, because she was Jewish, Hildegard had to leave Germany in 1934. She moved to a region called Palestine. There, she worked as a nurse and also sold shoes in Jerusalem. At the same time, she studied singing with a teacher named Rose Pauly. In 1945, she returned to Europe and continued her music studies in Zurich, Switzerland.
Her Amazing Singing Career
Hildegard Zadek started her opera career on February 3, 1947. Her first big role was in Verdi's opera Aida at the Vienna State Opera. She was very successful and continued to sing there until 1971.
The next year, she performed at the famous Salzburg Festival. She sang important roles like Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni and the main character in Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos. She also sang as Elsa in Wagner's Lohengrin and Eva in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.
Hildegard Zadek also performed in new operas. In 1949, she was part of the first-ever performance of Carl Orff's Antigonae. She also sang in the first Vienna performance of Menotti's The Consul in 1950.
She traveled a lot for her singing. She performed at the Royal Opera House in London, the Paris Opéra, and La Scala in Milan. She even sang at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.
In 1952, Hildegard Zadek made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. She sang Donna Anna in Don Giovanni there. She also performed in other operas like Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and Aida at the Met. She also sang in San Francisco and Buenos Aires.
Starting in 1967, Hildegard Zadek began teaching music at the Vienna Music Academy. She also held special classes for young singers. Her last performance at the Vienna State Opera was in 1971. After that, she retired from the stage.
Hildegard Zadek lived a long life and turned 100 years old on December 15, 2017. She passed away in Karlsruhe on February 21, 2019, at the age of 101.
To help new musicians, the Hildegard Zadek Foundation holds a singing competition every two years.
Awards and Honors
Hildegard Zadek received many awards for her talent:
- 1951: She was named Kammersängerin, a special title for opera singers in Austria and Germany.
- 1965: She received the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art.
- 1977: She became an honorary member of the Vienna State Opera.
- 1978: She was awarded the Honorary Medal of Vienna in gold.
- 2007: She received an honorary doctorate from the University of Music Karlsruhe on her 90th birthday.
- 2012: She received the Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria.
Images for kids
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Hildegard Zadek in April 2015, at 97 years old.
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