Elfriede Trötschel

Elfriede Trötschel (December 11, 1913, Dresden - June 20, 1958, Berlin) was a German operatic soprano, she was a versatile singer with a wide-ranging repertory.

She studied in her native Dresden with Sophie Kuhnau-Bernard and Paul Schoffler. Noticed by conductor Karl Bohm, she made her stage debut at the Staatsoper Dresden, in 1933, aged only 20, and where she remained until 1950. She made debut at the Berlin State Opera and at the Vienna State Opera in 1951. Sha made guest appearances in Florence, Naples, and Lisbon, and appeared at the Glyndebourne Festival, as Susanna, in 1953, and at the Royal Opera House in London, as Zdenka in 1954.

Her repertory included such diverse roles as Agathe in "Der Freischutz", Marenka in "The Bartered Bride", Antonia in the "Tales of Hoffmann", the title role in "Rusalka", Violetta in "La traviata", Cio-Cio-San in "Madama Butterfly", Hanna in "The Merry Widow", etc.

She was also an admired recitalist. Her career was cut short by her untimely death at the age of 44, while still at the height of her power.

elected recordings

* Smetana - "Die Verkaufte Braut" - Elfriede Trötschel, Richard Holm, Georg Stern, Frithof Sentpaul, Martha Geister - Frankfurt Radio Chorus and Orchestra, Karl Elmendorff - Cantus Classic (1953)

* Dvorak - "Rusalka" - Elfriede Trötschel, Helmut Schindler, Lisa Otto, Gottlob Frick - Dresden Radio Chorus and Orchestra, Joseph Keilberth - Relief (1948)

ources

* [http://www.operissimo.com Operissimo.com]