LUCIA
POPP
(b.
in Bratislava 1939 d. in Munich 1993)
The
life
Soprano
Lucia Popp was born as Lucia Poppova on 12 November, 1939,
in Uhorska Ves ( Bratislava ), Slovakia [formerly Czechoslovakia].
After finishing normal schooling, she studied medicine for
two semesters at Bratislava University. Yet, she felt what
would actually
fulfil her life was acting so she started training as an actress.
Later she decided to change her life dream and, after a few
private lessons, was admitted to the Conservatoire of Brno,
then that of Prague and finally the Music Academy of Bratislava,
completing a course in music and voice studies after four
years. She began her studies as a mezzo-soprano but, after
studying, her voice developed a high upper register.
Lucia
made her debut at Bratislava Opera aged 23, singing Queen
of the Night in Mozart's Die Zauberflote. In 1963, she was
heard by Herbert von Karajan who liked her voice so much that
he offered her a 3 years contract with the Vienna State Opera
which was the start of a long co-operation with this company.
Lucia Popp sang there as Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflote),
Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro), in 1966 Oscar (Un ballo in
maschera), Gilda (Rigoletto), Despina (Cosi fan tutte), Annchen
(Der Freischutz) and Sophie (Der Rosenkavalier). In 1966,
she repeated some of these roles at the Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden.
Around
1970, Lucia joined the Cologne Opera's ensemble where she
became one of the main pillars of the Mozart's repertoire.
There, she sang Blondchen (Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail),
Servilia (La clemenza di Tito) and Ilia (Idomeneo). She was
an incomparable Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), Queen of the
Night (Die Zauberflote) and became an incredibly touching
Pamina. As her voice matured even further, around late 1970s
and early 1980s, she turned to heavier lyrical parts, like
the Countess (Le nozze di Figaro), Agate (Der Freischutz)
and Zdenka (Arabella). She also sang Fiordiligi (Cosi fan
tutte), Donna Anna and Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Vitellia
(La Clemenza di Tito), Richard Strauss' Daphne, Christine
in Intermezzo, Marenka in Prodana Nevesta (Bartered Bride)
by Smetana and Elisabeth in Tannhauser.
Contessa
(Le
nozze di Figaro)
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Louise
(Louise)
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Throughout
her career, she created a few sensations, like the role of
Marchallin (Der Rosenkavalier) under conductor Wolfgang Sawallisch
and that of Countess (Capriccio) in Salzburg 1987. Many of
her recordings have received international awards. In 1983,
she was rewarded with the title of Bayerische Kammersangerin
from the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. The Vienna Philharmonic
awarded her the 'Silver Rose', an honour of which she was
very proud.
Lucia
Popp was also a successful concert and recital singer. Her
repertoire in lied is legendary. She gave recitals in Australia,
South Africa, Austria, America, Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland
and Germany. On November 16, 1993, she lost a battle with
cancer and passed away in Munich, Germany.
The
opera world had lost one of the International scene's brightest
stars.
The
voice
Lucia
Popp's voice was very unique, sweet and agile. She distinguished
herself as one of her generation's finest interpreters of
Mozart (Susanna, Despina, Queen of the Night, Pamina), as
well as a perfect interpreter of Rossini's Rosina (Il barbiere)
and Donizetti's heroines (L'elisir d'Amore and Don Pasquale).
She
had almost a magical ability of creating an unwavering emotional
bond between herself, music and her audience. The dazzling
coloratura soprano metamorphosed into a lyrical soprano of
exquisite brilliance but without a detriment to a perfectly
controlled piano singing, powerful and open sound on the high
register. She was a fine singer and actress who exhibited
an intelligent and expressive soprano, leaving little room
for improvement.
In
later years, she changed her 'fach' successfully, which is
not always an easy thing to do. She became known for working
through her parts with extreme thoroughness, a method which
suited her personality and which she retained later, after
she had long become a celebrity on the major international
opera stages. Lucia was one of a few singers who retained
a high standard of vocal technique for more than thirty years
Audio
files (removed)
1. G. Charpentier - Louise
Depuis le jour
Louise - act III.............................................4:44
2. B. Smetana - Prodana nevesta (Bartered Bride)
Oh! Jaky zal! (Oh, what a grief)
Marenka - act III...........................................6:15
3. W. A. Mozart - Le nozze di Figaro
E Susanna non vien…Dove sono i bei momenti
Contessa - act III..........................................5:52
4. G. Verdi - Rigoletto
Caro nome
Gilda - act II................................................6:10
(l.s.)
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”There
is one thing to be said for glory - you can take glory
with you, when it is your time to go”