Margarethe Siems (Soprano) (Breslau 1879 - Dresden 1952)

                                                  Marie in ''Fille du Regiment''

She studied under Aglaja Orgeni in Dresden, later with Pauline Viardot-Garcia in Paris and under the famous baritone Mattia Battistini. In 1902 she debuted in the German theater of Prague as a Marguerite de Valois in ‘’Les Huguenots’’. She appeared there till 1908. Here she sang among other things in the premières of Puccini’s operas ‘’La Bohème’’ and ‘’Madame Butterfly’. In 1905 she performed in this house in the premiere of the opera "Zierpuppen" of Anselm Goetzl. In 1908 she was appointed as a successor of Irene Abendroth at the Court Opera of Dresden. Here she sang on 25.1.1909 in the premiere of  ‘’Elektra’’ (Richard Strauss), on 26.1.1911 in the premiere of ‘’Rosenkavaliers’’ of Marschallin. The role she sang also in 1913 in the première of the opera at the Covent Garden. When on 25.10.1912 at the Stuttgart Court Opera  "Ariadne auf Naxos" was performed for the first time, she sang the role of Zerbinetta, which Richard Strauss had composed in view of her voice. Since 1904 numerous guest performances followed at the Berlin Court Opera, from 1904-16 also at the Court Opera of Munich, in 1911 and 1921 at the Vienna Court Opera. During the years before the First World War she still guested at the Viennese People's Opera (1906), in London (1914 at the Drury Lane Theatre), Milan, St. Petersburg and Amsterdam. In 1920 she became a pedagogue at Berlin Conservatory, however, gave still in Dresden and Berlin guest performances. She was appointed the honorary member of the Dresden opera. Since 1926 she lived again in Dresden, she appeared, however, only at the concert hall. In 1937 she received a professorship at the Wroclaw Conservatory, however, came back in 1946 to Dresden. One of her pupils was Sigrid Onegin.

Chronology of some appearances

1909 Dresden Hofoper Elektra (Chrysothemis)

1911 Dresden Hofoper Der Rosenkavalier (Marschallin)

1913 London Covent Garden Der Rosenkavalier (Marschallin)

1913 London Covent Garden Der Rosenkavalier (Marschallin)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

G&T, Praha 1903-09/10

Thema und Variationen (Proch) 43518 1918x

Lakme (Delibes): Glockchenarie 43520 1927x

Mignon (Thomas): Titania ist herabgestiegen 043024 229y

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti): Duett (w. Aranyi) 044027 228y

Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Duett (w. Aranyi) 044034 233y

Dinorah (Meyerbeer): Du leichter Schatten 043029 238y

G&T, Praha 1906-01?

Trovatore (Verdi): In deines Kerkers finst're Nacht 043069 263m

Norma (Bellini): Sieh', o Norma (w. Forstel) 2-44095 3677L

Gramophone, Berlin 1911-08-25

Rosenkavalier (Strauss): Hab' mir's gelobt (w. Nast & von der Osten) 044186 2302c

Rosenkavalier (Strauss): Kann mich auch an ein Madel erinnern 043179 2303c

Parlophon, Berlin 1911-02?

Rigoletto (Verdi): Teurer Name P573

Traviata (Verdi): s' ist seltsam, sehr seltsam P579

Huguenots (Meyerbeer): O glucklich' Land P574

Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (Nicolai): Nun eilt herbei P576

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti): Arie der Lucia, pt 1 P582

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti): Arie der Lucia, pt pt 2 P583

Odeon, Berlin 1911-05?

Rosenkavalier (Strauss): Hab' mir's gelobt (w. Nast & von der Osten) 80064 xxB5403

Pathe, Berlin 1912-08?

Martha (Flotow): Letzte Rose  55625

Aida (Verdi): Nil-Arie 55626

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart): Rosenarie 55627

Fille du Regiment (Donizetti): Weiss nicht die Welt 55628

Aida (Verdi): O Vater, Geliebter 55633