Description

SOPHIA (SOPHIE) HEYMANN (AMSTERDAM, 28 JANUARY, 1874 – SOBIBÓR CONCENTRATION CAMP, 5 MARCH, 1943)

She studied with some of the most important singing teachers of her era—first with Mathilde Marchesi de Castrone and Pauline Viardot-Garcia in Paris, and later in Berlin with Amalie Joachim. In 1897 she made her concert debut, followed the next year by a major tour of Holland. From 1897 onward, she appeared on stage in Ghent, The Hague, and Amsterdam. In 1898 she settled permanently in Berlin, from where she pursued an extensive concert career in the musical centers of both Germany and the Netherlands.

In 1900 she sang her first operatic role as Rosina in Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia at the Theater des Westens in Berlin, where she remained engaged until 1902. She later made guest appearances at various German theaters but was unable to establish a lasting stage career, increasingly devoting herself to concert work instead.

She was still living in Berlin in 1927. Tragically, during the Second World War Sophie Heymann and members of her family were murdered by the Nazis at the Sobibór concentration camp. Her sister, Louise Heymann (*1869 Amsterdam), was also active as a concert soprano. As early as 1900, three Berliner records were issued, though their sound quality was poor. Around 1910, Anker Records released discs under the name Sophie Heymann-Engel. These reveal a technically excellent, beautifully schooled coloratura soprano, making it all the more puzzling that she never achieved a full stage career. A number of favorite recordings of her voice also survive.

TRACKLIST

Der Vogel im Walde (Taubert) 43048 368B Berliner, Berlin 1901-10

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Reich’ mir die Hand, mein Leben (w. Luria) 1-19119 Favorite, Berlin 1906-01-13

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Arie 43050 369B Berliner, Berlin 1901-10

Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (Nicolai) Nein, das ist wirklich doch zu keck (w. Urban) 4591 1173-3 Anker, Berlin 1906/1907

Rigoletto (Verdi) Duett (w. Luria) 1-19118 1218-o Favorite, Berlin 1906-01-13

Traviata (Verdi) Arie der Violetta 43049 367B Berliner, Berlin 1901-10

Traviata (Verdi) Parigi, o cara (w. Alberti) 1-39001 1220-o Favorite, Berlin 1906-01-13

Trovatore (Verdi) Miserere (w. Alberti) 1-19120 1221-o Favorite, Berlin 1906-01-13