Lisa della Casa dies at 93

[operalover21]

One of the greatest Strauss and Mozart sopranos of the 20th century has died in Vienna at the age of 93. She was considered the pre-eminent Arabella and left a marvelous legacy of great recordings. When I first started to show an interest in Strauss in my early 20s it was she and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf who were my touchstones. I missed seeing her in person but I wrote to her at one point and she wrote back and included a beautiful autographed photo of herself as Arabella. It is framed and on the wall of my den. She will be missed.

[whipped guy]

Another great from the operatic past... She was Swiss, but had that most beautiful Italian name! For me she was the quintessential Mozart soprano... A true Countess if there ever was one!!

[+ Charlie]

I had a number of her recordings on LP years ago, but I think I have only one CD now. Like Schwarzkopf, she was a glamourous diva who was often photographed wrapped in furs offstage. She limited her roles almost exclusively to Strauss and Mozart, for which she seemed ideally suited. I would love to have seen her in "Capriccio."

 

Speaking of Schwartzkopf, a friend of mine ran into Walter Legge-whom he knew professionally--in an airport lounge, where they had a long conversation. Legge was accompanied by a dumpy hausfrau, and it wasn't until she spoke that my friend realized it was Schwartzkopf! When there were no cameras, her image was completely different.

[uwsman2]

Her CD of the Strauss Four Last Songs is treasurable.

[operalover21]

I love the comment of the critic who said: "you must go to her concerts twice. Once to listen to her, one to look at her."

[operalover21]

I had a number of her recordings on LP years ago, but I think I have only one CD now. Like Schwarzkopf, she was a glamourous diva who was often photographed wrapped in furs offstage. She limited her roles almost exclusively to Strauss and Mozart, for which she seemed ideally suited. I would love to have seen her in "Capriccio."

 

Speaking of Schwartzkopf, a friend of mine ran into Walter Legge-whom he knew professionally--in an airport lounge, where they had a long conversation. Legge was accompanied by a dumpy hausfrau, and it wasn't until she spoke that my friend realized it was Schwartzkopf! When there were no cameras, her image was completely different.

 

There's no question that, at home, Schwarzkopf was not glamorous. But she was never "dumpy."

[+ Charlie]

It was my friend's adjective, not mine (I never met her).