Description

EMMI LEISNER (FLENSBURG, 8 AUGUST, 1885 – KAMPEN, GERMANY, 11 JANUARY, 1958)

She studied in Berlin. Her career began with her performance in the role of Orpheus at the Hellerau Festival in 1912. This was followed by two opera engagements in Berlin, from 1913 to 1921 at the Court Opera and State Opera and from 1923 to 1925 at the German Opera House. In addition to this and afterwards, she developed an intensive, international activity as a song and concert singer, performed in Bayreuth and earned a legendary reputation as a contralto. In 1944, Leisner was on the list of those gifted by the Reich Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda. She last lived in Kampen on Sylt.

Her repertoire included operas by Gluck, Saint-Saëns and Wagner, arias by Monteverdi and Piccinni, Bach cantatas and songs by Brahms, Cornelius, Liszt, Mozart, Otto Nicolai, Pfitzner, Reger, Schubert and Schumann.

Her musical partners included the pianist Michael Raucheisen and the conductor Oskar Fried.

She was awarded the Danish Medal of Merit Ingenio et arti by King Christian X of Denmark on 13 January 1931.

TRACKLIST

1. Samson und Dalila (Saint-Saëns) Sieh’ mein Herz erschließet sich Rxx 76721  xxB 6216 Odeon
2. Samson und Dalila (Saint-Saëns) Und die Sonne die lachte Rxx 76722 xxB 6217 Odeon
3. Schlafe wohl, du Himmelknabe du (Wiegenlied der Hirten) (Schubart) D. B. 5546 2 RA 4323 2 Electrola
4. Schlafe, mein Liebster  aus dem Weihnachtsoratorium (Bach) B 24310  398 bg Grammophon
5. Schlag doch, gewünchte Stunde  Kantate für Alt (Bach) B 24311 404 12 bg Grammophon
6. Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) Einsam wachend in der Nacht 66737 936½bm Grammophon, Berlin 1928
7. Trovatore (Verdi) In unsre Heimat (w. Hutt) 72747 548as Grammophon, Berlin 1921
8. Vier ernste Gesänge Denn es gehet dem Menschen wie dem Vieh (Brahms)  D. B. 5561 2 RA 4310 1 Electrola
9. Vier ernste Gesänge Ich wandte mich (Brahms) D. B. 5561 2 RA 4311 1 Electrola
10. Vier ernste Gesänge O Tod, wie bitter bist du (Brahms) D. B.  5562 2 RA 4312 1 Electrola
11. Walküre (Wagner) Der alte Sturm, die alte Müh! (w. Schorr) 32-2828 2 B 2840 II Electrola
12. Walküre (Wagner) Mit tiefem Sinne (w. Schorr) 32-2830 2 B 2842 II Electrola
13. Walküre (Wagner) So ist es denn aus mit den ewigen Göttern (w. Schorr) 32-2829 2 B 2841 I Electrola
14. Walküre (Wagner) Was verlangst du (w. Schorr) 32-2858  2 B 2843 I Electrola
15. Wo du hingehst (Reinhold Becker)  B 24199 1073 as Grammophon
16. Xerxes (Händel) Largo 65777 1404 as Grammophon
17. Xerxes (Händel) Largo 67792 1702½GE9 Grammophon, Berlin 1941