Description

MARGARETHE SIEMS (BRESLAU, 20 DECEMBER, 1879 – DRESDEN, 13 APRIL, 1952)

She studied under Aglaja Orgeni in Dresden, later with Pauline Viardot-Garcia in Paris, and with the famous baritone Mattia Battistini. In 1902, she made her debut at the German Theater in Prague as Marguerite de Valois in Les Huguenots. She performed there until 1908, and during her tenure, she sang in the premieres of Puccini’s La Bohème and Madame Butterfly. In 1905, she also performed in the premiere of Anselm Goetzl’s Zierpuppen.

In 1908, she succeeded Irene Abendroth at the Court Opera of Dresden. There, she sang in the premiere of Richard Strauss’s Elektra on January 25, 1909, and in the premiere of Der Rosenkavalier on January 26, 1911. She performed the latter role at Covent Garden in 1913. On October 25, 1912, at the Stuttgart Court Opera, she sang the role of Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, a role Richard Strauss had composed with her voice in mind.

From 1904, she had numerous guest performances at the Berlin Court Opera, and from 1904 to 1916, at the Court Opera of Munich. She also appeared at the Vienna Court Opera in 1911 and 1921. Prior to World War I, she guest-starred at the Viennese People’s Opera (1906), in London (1914 at the Drury Lane Theatre), Milan, St. Petersburg, and Amsterdam.

In 1920, she became a pedagogue at the Berlin Conservatory but continued to give guest performances in Dresden and Berlin. She was appointed an honorary member of the Dresden opera. After returning to Dresden in 1926, she performed only at concert halls. In 1937, she received a professorship at the Wroclaw Conservatory but returned to Dresden in 1946. Among her pupils was Sigrid Onegin.

Chronology of some appearances

1909 Dresden Hofoper Elektra (Chrysothemis)

1911 Dresden Hofoper Der Rosenkavalier (Marschallin)

1913 London Covent Garden Der Rosenkavalier (Marschallin)

1913 London Covent Garden Der Rosenkavalier (Marschallin)

TRACKLIST 

1. Aida (Verdi) Nil-Arie 55626 Pathé, Berlin 1912-08
2. Aida (Verdi) O Vater, Geliebter 55633 Pathé, Berlin 1912-08
3. Die Nachtigall (Alabieff) 043033 234y G&T, Praha 1903-0910
4. Dinorah (Meyerbeer) Du leichter Schatten 043029 238y G&T, Praha 1903-0910
5. Fille du Régiment (Donizetti) Weiss nicht die Welt 55628 Pathé, Berlin 1912-08
6. Frühlingsstimmen (Strauss) 55632 Pathé, Berlin 1912-08
7. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Dies einz’ge Wörtchen Liebe P575 Parlophon, Berlin 1911-02
8. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Duett (w. Aranyi) 044034 233y G&T, Praha 1903-0910
9. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) O glucklich’ Land P574 Parlophon, Berlin 1911-02
10. Lakme (Delibes) Glockchenarie 43520 1927x G&T, Praha 1903-0910
11. Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Arie der Lucia, pt 1, pt 2 P582, P583 Parlophon, Berlin 1911-02
12. Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Duett (w. Aranyi) 044027 228y G&T, Praha 1903-0910
13. Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Flötenkadenz 55631 Pathé, Berlin 1912-08
14. Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) In Kummer und in Tränen (w. Zador) 2-44122 3659L G&T, Praha 1906-01
15. Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Wahnsinnsarie 043031 237y G&T, Praha 1903-0910
16. Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (Nicolai) Nun eilt herbei… Er wird mir glauben P576, P577 Parlophon, Berlin 1911-02