Fassbaender, Brigitte (1939–)

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Fassbaender, Brigitte (1939–)

German mezzo-soprano. Name variations: Fassbander or Fassbänder. Born on July 3, 1939, in Berlin, Germany; studied with father, baritone Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender, at Nuremberg Conservatory (1957–61).

One of the finest female lieder singers on the concert stage, debuted at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich (1961); debuted at Covent Garden (1971), Salzburg (1973), Metropolitan Opera (1974); though she preferred concertizing to opera, focused on Wagner in the latter half of career and was associated with many operatic roles; made a Bavarian Kammersängerin, a title awarded a singer of outstanding merit (1970).