German contralto dies, 100
RIPThe family has reported the death of Gisela Litz, born in Hamburg, December 14, 1922.
She sang at Bayreuth, Edinburgh, Munich, Rome, Lisbon, Brussels and Buenos Aires through the 1950s.
In 1969 she was appointed Professor at the Hamburg Musikhochschule.
She is pictured here, aged 92, with her pupil Janina Baechle.
Gisela Litz is central to the first (1956) recording of Weill’s opera THE RISE AND FALL OF CITY OF MAHAGONNY.
Her singing as the Widow Begbick was described as “poisonously lyrical” by Rodney Milnes (OPERA ON RECORD 3).
R. I. P., Gisela Litz. When my enthusiasm for operas began in the early 60s, she was a member of Hamburg State Opera. Some roles, in which I heard her, were Carmen, Olga and Dorabella. Therefore her voice was more a mezzo-soprano than a contralto.
Nice to see Janina there, too. Excellent singer and lady.