Description

LOTTE SCHÖNE, BORN CHARLOTTE BODENSTEIN, MARRIED SCHÖNWÄLDER, MARRIED FLANDRAK (VIENNA, 15 DECEMBER, 1891- BOBIGNY NEAR PARIS, 22 DECEMBER, 1977)

 

 

 

 

She began her training at the age of 14 with Johannes Ress in Vienna, and later continued her studies with Luise Ress and Maria Brossement. In 1912, she made her debut at the Vienna Volksoper as a Bridesmaid in “Der Freischütz.” In 1917, she joined the Vienna Court Opera (later the Vienna State Opera), where she enjoyed great success until 1926.

She appeared at the Salzburg Festival from 1922 to 1925, again in 1928, and from 1930 to 1935, primarily in Mozart roles—Cherubino in “Le nozze di Figaro,” Despina in “Così fan tutte,” Pamina in “Die Zauberflöte,” and Zerlina in “Don Giovanni.” She also performed there as a concert singer.

In 1926, she was engaged by the Berlin Municipal Opera, where she expanded her repertoire to include lyric roles alongside her coloratura parts. In 1927, she sang Liù in the Berlin premiere of Puccini’s “Turandot,” and in 1928 took part in the world premiere of Julius Bittner’s opera “Die Mondnacht.” She enjoyed particular acclaim as Mélisande in “Pelléas et Mélisande,” performing the role in The Hague in 1929 and with outstanding success at the Opéra-Comique in Paris in 1930.

In 1927, she also appeared at London’s Covent Garden, where she sang Liù in “Turandot” and Marzelline in “Fidelio.” From 1930 to 1931, she was celebrated in guest appearances in Amsterdam and The Hague.

In 1933, as a Jew, she was forced to leave Germany. She was then engaged by the Opéra-Comique in Paris, and also appeared at the Paris Opéra, singing Marzelline in “Fidelio” under Bruno Walter in 1930 and Mélisande in 1933. She undertook successful concert tours throughout France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, though she never performed in America.

From 1938 onward, she appeared only in concerts, primarily in recitals. When German troops occupied France in 1940, she was forced to hide for several years in a village in the French Alps. In 1945, she resumed her career, now almost exclusively as a concert singer, giving acclaimed recitals in Paris, Geneva, and other musical centers. In 1948, she made one final guest appearance at the Berlin State Opera. She ended her career in 1953 and subsequently worked as a teacher in Paris.

Her soprano voice was admired for its exceptional musical beauty and wide range of expressive nuance.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Mit starrem Angesicht (Volta la terrea) EW70 (7-43125), BLR5347-2 HMV, Berlin 1929-05-04

Bohème (Puccini) Donde lieta usci DA1238 (30-6226) 0D258-2 HMV, Berlin 1931-03-20

Bohème (Puccini) Quando me’n vo’ (It) EW70 (7-43126), BLR5350-2 HMV, Berlin 1929-05-06

Bolero – L’invito (Rossini) DA1328 (30-6227) 0D260-2 HMV, Berlin 1931-03-20

Cagliostro in Wien (Strauss) Zigeunerkind, wie glänzt dein Haar O-8218 xxB7210 Odeon, Berlin 1925-06-13

Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, pt 1, pt 2 (Schubert) EJ558 (2-043131), EJ558 (2-043132), CLR5345-2, CLR5346-1 HMV, Berlin 1929-05-04

Dorfschwalben aus Österreich (Strauss) 80216 xxB7014 Odeon, Berlin 1924-05-06

Fledermaus (Strauss) Mein Herr Marquis 80212 xxB7005 Odeon, Berlin 1924-05-05

Fledermaus (Strauss) Spiel’ ich die Unschuld 80285 xxB7006-2 Odeon, Berlin 1925-06-12

Geisha (Jones) Der verliebte Goldfisch 80452, xxB7202 Odeon, Berlin 1925-06-11

Geisha (Jones) O tanz’, du kleine Geisha O-8222 xxB7199-2 Odeon, Berlin 1925-06-11

Geschichten aus dem Wiener Wald (Strauss) EJ429 (2-043116), CL4546-2T1 HMV, Berlin 1928-09-25

Lustige Krieg (Strauss) Was ist an einem Kuß gelegen O-8216 xxB7205 Odeon, Berlin 1925-06-12

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Deine Mutter (Death scene) EJ422 (2-043120), CLR4645-2

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Eines Tages EJ422 (2-043111), CL4547-1 HMV, Berlin 1928-09-25

Manon (Massenet) Leb’ wohl, du kleines Tischchen EJ669 (2-043133), CLR5348-1 HMV, Berlin 1929-05-06

Obersteiger (Zeller) Ja, dort in den Bergen drin 80457 xxB7201 Odeon, Berlin 1925-06-11

Rigoletto (Verdi) E il sol dell’anima (w. Hislop) DB1127 (2-054179), Cc10964-2 HMV, London 1927-06-20

Rigoletto (Verdi) Tutte le feste (w. Janssen) (It) DB1127 (2-044034) CwR1341-1 HMV, Berlin 1927-11-11

Schöne Galathée (Suppé) Trinklied 80462 xxB7204 Odeon, Berlin 1925-06-12

Schöne Galathée (Suppé) Was singst du Ich lausche 80463 xxB7208 Odeon, Berlin 1925-06-12

Turandot (Puccini) Signore ascolta EW41 (7-53125), BLR3793-2 HMV, Berlin 1928-01-25

Turandot (Puccini) Tu che di gel sei cinta EW41 (7-43096), BwR1343-1 HMV, Berlin 1927-11-11

Vogelhändler (Zeller) Entrée der Kurfürstin (Rheinwalzer) O-8222 xxB7211 Odeon, Berlin 1925-06-13

Vogelhändler (Zeller) Ich bin die Christel 80456, xxB7200 Odeon, Berlin 1925-06-11