Fischer, Res (actually, Maria Theresia)

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Fischer, Res (actually, Maria Theresia)

Fischer, Res (actually, Maria Theresia), German contralto; b. Berlin, Nov. 8, 1896; d. Stuttgart, Oct. 4, 1974. She studied in Stuttgart and Prague; then took lessons in Berlin with Lilli Lehmann. She made her debut in 1927 in Basel, where she sang until 1935; then appeared with the Frankfurt am Main Opera (1935–1); in 1941 she joined the Stuttgart Opera, remaining on its roster until 1961; was made its honorary member in 1965. She also sang at the festivals of Salzburg and Bayreuth, and with the state operas in Vienna, Hamburg, and Munich. She created the title role in Orff’s Antigonae (Salzburg, 1949) and sang in the first performance of Wagner- Régeny’s Bergwerk von Falun (Salzburg, 1961).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire