Description

VIORICA URSULEAC (CHERNIVTSI, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, MARCH 26, 1894 – ERNOLD, PROVINCE OF TYROL, AUSTRIA, OCTOBER 22, 1985)

 

 

 

 

The daughter of a Greek Orthodox priest, she received her musical training at the Vienna Academy of Music and continued her studies with Lilli Lehmann in Berlin, as well as with Philipp Forstén and Beatrice Sutter-Kottlar in Frankfurt. She made her stage debut in 1922 at the Croatian National Opera in Zagreb as Charlotte in Massenet’s Werther. From 1923 to 1924, she was engaged at the Czernowitz City Theatre.

Engaged at the Vienna Volksoper from 1924 to 1926, she then joined the Frankfurt Opera in 1926, where she continued to appear frequently as a guest. It was in Frankfurt that she met the conductor Clemens Krauss (1893–1954), whom she later married, and who often accompanied her in recital. On February 26, 1926, she participated in the world premiere of Bernhard Sekles’ opera Die zehn Küsse. That same year, she appeared at the Wiesbaden State Theatre in the world premiere of Ernst Krenek’s opera Der Diktator.

After a season at the Dresden State Opera (1930–31), she joined the Vienna State Opera in 1931, remaining a member until 1935. From 1933 to 1937, she sang at the Berlin State Opera, and in 1937, she and her husband joined the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. She continued to appear regularly as a guest at both the Vienna and Berlin State Operas.

She also performed almost annually at the Salzburg Festival, where she achieved great acclaim. Her Salzburg roles included: the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier (1930–33), the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro (1930–34), Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte (1932–34), the Empress in Die Frau ohne Schatten (1932–33), the title role in Die ägyptische Helena (1933–34), and Arabella (1942–43). In 1952, she appeared there once again, singing Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs.

Guest appearances at La Scala, at Covent Garden (as Desdemona in Otello in 1934), and at the opera houses of Rome, Brussels, Amsterdam, Budapest, and Leipzig added to her international success. In 1934, she sang at Covent Garden in the premiere of Weinberger’s Schwanda, the Bagpiper and in the English premiere of Strauss’s Arabella. She also undertook highly successful South American tours. In 1936, she was celebrated in Amsterdam as the Marschallin, and in 1938 at the Rome Opera in the Italian premiere of Die Frau ohne Schatten.

Her long artistic collaboration and friendship with Richard Strauss was of particular significance. Viorica Ursuleac took part in several Strauss premieres: on July 1, 1933, at the Dresden State Opera in the title role of Arabella; on July 24, 1938, at the Munich State Opera as Maria in Friedenstag (a score dedicated to her and Clemens Krauss by the composer); and on October 28, 1942, again in Munich, as the Countess in Capriccio. In 1944, she sang the title role in Die Liebe der Danaë at Salzburg in the work’s public dress rehearsal. She remained a member of the Munich Opera until 1944.

Later, she settled in Vienna, continuing to appear as a guest—most recently in 1952 at the Vienna State Opera as the Marschallin—and in concerts. After the death of her husband in 1954, she lived a retired and secluded life in Ehrwald, Tyrol.

A lyric-dramatic soprano, she distinguished herself above all in the operas of Richard Strauss and Mozart. She was also acclaimed as Senta in Der fliegende Holländer, Sieglinde in Die Walküre, Freia in Das Rheingold, Eva in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and in major roles by Verdi.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Arabella (Strauss) Aber der Richtige, wenn’s einen gibt (w. Bokor) 62712 5580¾BD8 Polydor, Berlin 1933

Arabella (Strauss) Das war sehr gut Mandryka (w. Jerger) 62711 5577½BD8 Polydor, Berlin 1933

Arabella (Strauss) So wie Sie sind, so hab’ ich keinen Menschen (w. Jerger) 62712 5579BD8 Polydor, Berlin 1933

Cäcilie (R Strauss) 30017 2924½GN8 Polydor, Berlin 1936-05-29

Frühlingsfeier (R Strauss) 35032 2923GN8 Polydor, Berlin 1936-05-29

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Wenn die sanften Abendlüfte (Briefduett) 62755 6400¾GR8 Polydor, Berlin 1936-01-22

Rosenkavalier (Strauss) Hab’ mir’s gelobt (w. Berger & Lemnitz) 67075 594½GS8 Polydor, Berlin 1936-01-22

Tosca (Puccini) Nur der Schönheit 35033 592GS8 Polydor, Berlin 1936-01-22

Trovatore (Verdi) Sieh’ meiner hellen Träne flut (w. Sved) 67173 600½GS8 Polydor, Berlin 1936-02-21

Turandot (Puccini) In diesem Schlosse 35033 593½GS8 Polydor, Berlin 1936-01-22