Lilli Lehmann facts for kids
Lilli Lehmann was a famous German opera singer. She was born Elisabeth Maria Lehmann on November 24, 1848. Later, her full name became Elisabeth Maria Lehmann-Kalisch. She was known for her powerful and flexible singing voice. Lilli Lehmann also taught many students how to sing. She passed away on May 17, 1929.
Quick facts for kids
Lilli Lehmann
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| Born |
Elisabeth Maria Lehmann
24 November 1848 Würzburg
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| Died | 17 May 1929 (aged 80) Berlin
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| Nationality | German |
| Occupation | Dramatic Coloratura Soprano |
| Spouse(s) | Paul Kalisch |
| Parent(s) | Karl-August Lehmann Maria Theresia Löw |
| Signature | |
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Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Music
Lilli Lehmann came from a musical family. Her father, Karl-August Lehmann, was a singer. Her mother, Maria Theresia Löw, was also a soprano singer. Lilli's younger sister, Marie, also became an opera singer. Lilli's first singing lessons came from her mother. Her mother had been a lead singer at the Cassel opera.
Lilli began singing small parts on stage. One of her first roles was in Mozart's Magic Flute. This was in Prague in 1866. She then studied in Leipzig. In 1870, Lehmann made her official debut in Berlin. She sang in an opera called Das Feldlager in Schlesien. She became very successful. In 1876, she was named an Imperial Chamber Singer for life. This was a special honor.
Rise to Stardom and International Career
Lilli Lehmann sang at the first Bayreuth Festival in 1876. She performed in the first full performances of The Ring Cycle. She sang the roles of Woglinde and Helmwige. In 1884, she performed in London. She then appeared at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. She sang there from 1885 to 1899.
Lilli Lehmann helped make Richard Wagner's music popular in America. She worked with other famous singers and conductors. She stayed in America longer than her leave allowed. This caused a problem with the Berlin Opera. She faced a ban from performing in Germany. But the German Emperor himself stepped in. He helped lift the ban, and she could sing in Germany again.
She returned to London's Royal Opera House in 1899. She also sang in Paris in 1903 and Vienna in 1909. In 1905, she performed at the Salzburg Festival. Later, she became the artistic director of this festival. Lehmann was also known for singing Lieder, which are German art songs. She continued to give concerts until the 1920s.
Her Amazing Voice and Roles
Lilli Lehmann had a splendid and powerful voice. She was known as one of the greatest Wagnerian singers. She was also excellent at singing Bellini's Norma. She was also a top performer of Mozart's opera music. Many thought she was unbeatable as Brünnhilde and Isolde.
She sang an incredible number of different roles. Throughout her career, she performed 170 different parts. These were in 119 German, Italian, and French operas. People admired her not just for her singing. They also praised her skills as a tragic actress.
Teaching and Legacy
Lilli Lehmann was also a respected voice teacher. Many famous singers learned from her. These included Geraldine Farrar and Olive Fremstad. She helped shape the careers of many talented artists.
In 1916, Lehmann started the International Summer Academy. This was at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. At first, it focused on voice lessons. Later, it grew to include many types of music instruction.
The Lilli Lehmann Medal is given out by the Mozarteum. It honors her contributions to music. You can still hear her voice today. Her recordings were made before World War I. Even though she was past her peak, these recordings are still impressive.
Personal Life and Beliefs
In 1888, Lilli Lehmann married the tenor Paul Kalisch. In 1896, Lehmann became a vegetarian. She believed it helped her career and health. She said she no longer felt tired or had headaches. Her diet included fruits, rice, milk, eggs, cheese, vegetables, and rye bread. She did admit to eating fish twice a year.
Lilli Lehmann was also against animal testing. She was very happy that whipping horses was not allowed in New York. She also spoke out against using feathers from exotic birds in women's hats. After her performances, she would sign autographs for women. But only if they promised not to wear feathers in their hats.
Images for kids
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Portrait with signature, 1903
