1. Leopoldine Rysanek, known professionally as Leonie Rysanek, was an Austrian dramatic soprano.
17 Facts About Leonie Rysanek
1. 2.
Leonie Rysanek entered the Vienna Academy at 16, where she studied with Alfred Jerger.
3.
Leonie Rysanek was convinced that her unique, young and beautiful voice, combined with her rare acting abilities, would create a sensation.
4.
Leonie Rysanek became a star overnight, and the role of Sieglinde followed her for the rest of her career.
5.
Leonie Rysanek made her American debut at the San Francisco Opera on 18 September 1956 in Der fliegende Hollander, the first of her nineteen roles in San Francisco.
6.
Leonie Rysanek starred in productions of Verdi's Nabucco, in the title role of Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss, the Empress in Die Frau ohne Schatten, by Strauss, and Janacek's Kata Kabanova.
7.
Leonie Rysanek made her farewell there as the Countess in Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades in January 1996.
8.
Leonie Rysanek was appointed curator of the Vienna Festival a few months after her retirement, a post she held until her death in Vienna at age 71.
9.
Leonie Rysanek was known for singing the music of Richard Strauss.
10.
Leonie Rysanek was especially praised as the Empress in Die Frau ohne Schatten, the title role in Salome, the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier and Chrysothemis in Elektra.
11.
Leonie Rysanek avoided offers to sing Isolde in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde despite speculation that the role would be perfect for her.
12.
Leonie Rysanek sang Brunnhilde in Die Walkure in 1950 in Innsbruck but did not return to this role.
13.
Leonie Rysanek sang the title role of Tosca often, and Turandot a few times.
14.
Leonie Rysanek sang Abigaille in the Metropolitan Opera's first staging of Nabucco in 1960.
15.
Leonie Rysanek took an interest in Czech opera, even though she didn't grow up speaking Czech at home.
16.
Leonie Rysanek sang Turandot and was praised in her role of Kundry in Parsifal at the Met, Vienna, and the Bayreuth Festival.
17.
Leonie Rysanek started her career when Kirsten Flagstad was still alive and Birgit Nilsson and Astrid Varnay at the peak of their vocal abilities.