Opera Singer. A contralto who performed for 30 years at the Dresden Court Opera, she is remembered for singing the evil Herodius at the December 5, 1905, world premiere of Richard Strauss' "Salome". The daughter of an Army officer, she received her vocal training in Vienna, Paris, and Dresden before joining the Dresden Court Opera in 1885. Over the years Irene sang the main roles of her voice range including Fides in Meyerbeer's "Le Prophete", the Princess Amneris in Verdi's "Aida", the title seductress of Camille Saint-Saens' "Samson et Dalila", the 'trouser role' of Adriano in Wagner's "Rienzi", Bizet's cigarette girl "Carmen", and the gypsy Azucena from Verdi's "Il Trovatore". In 1905 she was selected by Maestro Strauss to debut Herodius in a performance conducted by Ernst von Schuch with Marie Wittich in the title role. Following her 1915 retirement Irene remained in Dresden; as far as is known she left no recordings.
Opera Singer. A contralto who performed for 30 years at the Dresden Court Opera, she is remembered for singing the evil Herodius at the December 5, 1905, world premiere of Richard Strauss' "Salome". The daughter of an Army officer, she received her vocal training in Vienna, Paris, and Dresden before joining the Dresden Court Opera in 1885. Over the years Irene sang the main roles of her voice range including Fides in Meyerbeer's "Le Prophete", the Princess Amneris in Verdi's "Aida", the title seductress of Camille Saint-Saens' "Samson et Dalila", the 'trouser role' of Adriano in Wagner's "Rienzi", Bizet's cigarette girl "Carmen", and the gypsy Azucena from Verdi's "Il Trovatore". In 1905 she was selected by Maestro Strauss to debut Herodius in a performance conducted by Ernst von Schuch with Marie Wittich in the title role. Following her 1915 retirement Irene remained in Dresden; as far as is known she left no recordings.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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