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Classicsonline Home » Artists » » Berger, Erna

Erna Berger (1900 - 1990)

The German soprano Erna Berger (1900-1990). Born in Dresden where she also studied before making her début at the Staatsoper as the First Boy in Die Zauberflöte in 1925. Although her career was mainly spent in Germany, principally in Berlin but also Bayreuth (1929-33), Berger also sang at Salzburg: her interpretation of Zerlina in both 1953 and 1954 are preserved on disc. Her appearances at Covent Garden in 1934-35, 1938 and 1949 were as Marcelline, Sophie, Gilda and the Queen of the Night, a rôle which she also memorably recorded with Beecham in Berlin during 1937-38. After her Met début with the performance of Der Rosenkavalier in November 1949, she also sang Gilda (later recorded on Naxos 8.110148-9) and the Queen of the Night in the ensuing two seasons. Her career continued until 1955 when she moved over to teaching singing exclusively. Her voice retained its youthful freshness and girlish quality throughout her career. She recorded extensively for Polydor, EMI and RCA Victor.