Stünzner, Elisa (1886-1975)

Stünzner, Elisa

OPERA SINGER (GERMANY)

BORN 10 Jan 1886, Altenburg, Thüringen - DIED 19 Sep 1975, Dresden, Sachsen
GRAVE LOCATION Dresden, Sachsen: Waldfriedhof Weißer Hirsch, Am Heiderand 8

Elisa Stünzner studied at the Conservatory in Leipzig, but it is unknown who her teachers were. In 1909 she started as a volunteer at the Court Opera in Dresden. In Dresden she was taught by Dora Erl (1879-1940). She became a member of the ensemble of the Court Opera and continued her career there until her retirement from the stage in 1935.

In 1911 she had a small part in the premiere of "Der Rosenkavalier" by Richard Strauss. In 1918 she appeared in the premiere of "Der Eroberer" by Jan Brandts-Buys, in 1926 in the premiere of "Der Protagonist" by Kurt Weill and in 1927 in "Die Hochzeit des Mönchs" by Alfred Schattmann. In 1929 she sang at the premiere of Heinrich Kaminski's "Jürg Jenatsch" and in 1932 she sang with Maria Cebotari in the premiere of d'Albert's "Mister Wu". In 1930 she sang Salome at a special anniversary performance in Dresden with Strauss conducting. In 1931 she was Salome in Vienna, again conducted by Strauss himself. At some point, Strauss stated that she was his favourite Salome. Her last part was Elisabeth in Wagner's "Tannhäuser" in 1935.

After her retirement from the stage, she taught singing at the Akademie der Musik in Leipzig and at the Carl-Maria-von-Weber Conservatory in Dresden. She also continued to give recitals. She died in Dresden in 1975.

Related persons
• was admired by Strauss, Richard

Events

26/1/1911

Première of "Der Rosenkavalier" by Richard Strauss at the Hofoper in Dresden. Hugo von Hofmannsthal wrote the libretto and Margarethe Siems was Marschallin. Ernst von Schuch was the conductor. The singers included Eva von der Osten, Karl Scheidemantel, Karl Perron, Minnie Nast and Elisa Stünzner. [Hofmannsthal, Hugo von][Osten, Eva von der][Scheidemantel, Karl][Strauss, Richard]