Opera Singer. A coloratura soprano, she is remembered for her long career at the Vienna State Opera (VSO). Raised in Modling, she studied at the Vienna Music Academy with bass Alfred Jerger and made her 1945 professional and VSO bow as Susanna from Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro." Ruthilde was to be heard at the venerable house 387 times in 38 roles up to 1974, her noted portrayals including several Mozartian characters, among them, in addition to Susanna, Barbarina in "The Marriage of Figaro," Papagena from "The Magic Flute," Despina of "Cosi fan tutte," and Blonde in "The Abduction from the Seraglio." Her non-Mozart ladies included Rosina in Rossini's "The Barber of Seville," Lola of Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana," the doll Olympia in Jacques Offenbach's "The Tales of Hoffman," and Zerbinetta from Richard Strauss' "Ariadne auf Naxos"; Ruthilde appeared in a much acclaimed 1949 presentation of "The Magic Flute" at the Salzburg Festival under the baton of Wilhelm Furtwangler, was heard throught Europe as well as in Japan where she lived for several years, and made at least five world concert tours with her husband conductor William Loibner. In 1968 she received the now-honourary title of Kammersangerin which entitled her to use the initials "KS" before her name; after leaving the stage in the mid 1970s she was a distinguished voice teacher, her students including Edita Gruberova, Edith Mathis, and Doris Drechsel. At her death from the effects of advanced age a number of her recordings were available.
Opera Singer. A coloratura soprano, she is remembered for her long career at the Vienna State Opera (VSO). Raised in Modling, she studied at the Vienna Music Academy with bass Alfred Jerger and made her 1945 professional and VSO bow as Susanna from Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro." Ruthilde was to be heard at the venerable house 387 times in 38 roles up to 1974, her noted portrayals including several Mozartian characters, among them, in addition to Susanna, Barbarina in "The Marriage of Figaro," Papagena from "The Magic Flute," Despina of "Cosi fan tutte," and Blonde in "The Abduction from the Seraglio." Her non-Mozart ladies included Rosina in Rossini's "The Barber of Seville," Lola of Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana," the doll Olympia in Jacques Offenbach's "The Tales of Hoffman," and Zerbinetta from Richard Strauss' "Ariadne auf Naxos"; Ruthilde appeared in a much acclaimed 1949 presentation of "The Magic Flute" at the Salzburg Festival under the baton of Wilhelm Furtwangler, was heard throught Europe as well as in Japan where she lived for several years, and made at least five world concert tours with her husband conductor William Loibner. In 1968 she received the now-honourary title of Kammersangerin which entitled her to use the initials "KS" before her name; after leaving the stage in the mid 1970s she was a distinguished voice teacher, her students including Edita Gruberova, Edith Mathis, and Doris Drechsel. At her death from the effects of advanced age a number of her recordings were available.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
Advertisement
