Elisabeth Schumann

Elisabeth Schumann (1888–1952) was a radiant German soprano whose crystalline voice and expressive artistry made her a star of early 20th-century opera and lieder. Known for her silvery tone and nimble phrasing, she became closely associated with Mozart roles like Susanna in *The Marriage of Figaro* and Sophie in Strauss’s *Der Rosenkavalier*—a role she famously premiered in Vienna under the composer’s baton. Collaborating with legends like Richard Strauss and conductor Karl Böhm, Schumann charmed audiences at the Vienna State Opera and later at New York’s Metropolitan Opera. Her recordings of Schubert, Brahms, and Strauss lieder, captured between the 1920s-1940s, remain touchstones of vocal elegance.

After fleeing Nazi Germany in 1938, Schumann settled in the U.S., sharing her expertise as a teacher at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute. Modern remasters of her work—like *Schubert Lieder (1927-1945)* or 2024’s *Swan Song* reissue—keep her legacy alive, introducing new listeners to her delicate yet emotionally vivid interpretations. Whether sparkling in operetta or piercing hearts with a Schubert ballad, Schumann’s voice still feels like a whispered secret between friends.

Genres

Canzone Napoletana

Latest Release

If My Grandma was a Singer

Elisabeth Schumann

Album - 21 Tracks - Released December 11, 2015