With its demise it is a time of the song which closes

Born on 9 December 1915 at Jarotschin, near Poznan, in East Prussia, she is very full at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin musical studies, before be committed at the Städtische Oper two days after its entry, in 1938, it is already one of the girls flowers of Richard Wagner's "Parsifal". The war occurs, and like many of her colleagues, she enrolled in the nazi party. During a tour, in 1941, it takes the role of Adele in Johann Strauss Jr., at the Opéra de Paris "the bat". His first teacher saw in it a mezzo-soprano; It now works with Maria Ivogün, famous Hungarian singer, and addresses the jobs of light soprano.

In 1944, she became a member of the troupe of the Vienna Opera, then one of the most prestigious of the world; his career took a decisive turn at this time. Is always assigned roles as light, Gilda in "Rigoletto", the "Barber of Seville" Rosina, but it also addresses "traviata" Violetta, Mimi in "La Bohème", more lyrical. Until it finds the directory which is suitable ideally and establish his reputation. The years 1947-48, with the Viennese team, it has already occurred in London, the Scala in Milan, theaters in which it will return as a guest. Noticed by the famous conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler, it is host to a Salzburg Festival in full renaissance since its reopening in 1951.

His fame will soon be based on a few roles, three of Mozart, the Countess of the "marriage of Figaro", Donna Elvira "Don Giovanni", Fiordiligi in "Così fan tutte", and two of Richard Strauss, the Countess Madeleine "Capriccio" and the Marschallin of "Knight in the rose", that critics will undoubtedly faulted. Contemporary music it attracts little; Yet, she helped the creation of the "Rake's Progress" of Igor Stravinsky, at la Fenice in Venice in 1951. His scenic activity, she continues to defend the Lied, Franz Schubert, also of Hugo Wolf, composer totally underestimated at the time and it is known around the world. Hard worker, tireless perfectionist who becomes an iron discipline, she masters a voice to the enchanting stamp wonderfully, and gives the words colour, flavour and spirit, both great is his understanding of the texts. If it can be faulted for his art of simplicity, it is dazzled by his style, his charm, his distinction. As soon as it enters the scene, blonde, clear eyes, an aristocratic maintenance, it radiates.

Engravings of reference

The drive made it one of his favorite stars. Spotted by Walter Legge, one of the producers more to His Master's Voice, she married in 1953, it serious a series of recordings, under the direction of Herbert von Karajan, Carlo Maria Giulini, Otto Ackermann, most entreront dans legend and today still references, "Ariane in Naxos", "Così fan tutte", "The marriage of Figaro", Verdi's "Falstaff", also putting his talents at the service of the oratorio (Johann Sebastian Bach) as well as the Viennese operetta of Franz Lehar and Johann Strauss son.

In 1971, in Brussels, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf bade farewell to the scene. His last act, at the end of the first act of "Knight of the rose": look in a mirror. She continued to give recitals, to the disappearance of Legge, in 1979. It then chooses does more to devote himself to teaching, showing a severe and demanding teacher. With its demise, it is a time of the song which closes. His many recordings, fortunately, have never left the catalogue.