Gundula Janowitz is an Austrian lyric soprano, renowned for her clear and pure voice that graced the world's major opera stages in the mid-to-late 20th century. Born on August 2, 1937, in Berlin, Janowitz moved to Graz with her family at the end of World War II, where she went on to study voice at the Graz Conservatory. Her professional debut came at a remarkably young age when she joined the Graz Opera in 1959. Her breakout performance was at the Vienna State Opera in 1960, where she was cast as Barbarina in Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro."

Janowitz's career rapidly ascended as her signature roles in works by Beethoven, Mozart, and Richard Strauss won her critical acclaim. She became a favoured soprano of the legendary conductor Herbert von Karajan, with whom she recorded extensively, including Beethoven's "Symphony No. 9" and operatic masterpieces such as "Der Rosenkavalier." Her sublime interpretation of roles like Pamina in Mozart's "The Magic Flute" and Countess Almaviva in "The Marriage of Figaro" helped caramelize her reputation as a Mozartean par excellence. Beyond the world of opera, Janowitz was also celebrated for her Lieder recitals and orchestral collaborations that often delved into the repertoire of Bach, Handel, and Mahler. Even after her retirement from the operatic stage in the late 1980s, recordings such as "The Gundula Janowitz Edition" and "Wiener Staatsoper Live" have continued to capture her enduring artistry for posterity. Her celebrated career is distinguished by numerous awards and honorifics, securing her legacy as one of the great sopranos of her time.

Genres

Classical Soprano

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Latest Release

Gundula Janowitz sings Bach, Beethoven, Gluck & Händel

Gundula Janowitz•

Ludwig van Beethoven•

Karl Richter•

Christoph Willibald Gluck•

George Frideric Handel•

Johann Sebastian Bach

Album - 23 Tracks - Released July 21, 2023