Nina Friede (Contralto) (St Petersburg, Russia 10 (22). 1. 1859 - Leningrad, Russia 16.3. 1942)

She was the daughter of a Russian general.  She studied singing at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory under N. A.  Iretzkaya.  She perfected her vocal technique with Mathilde Marchesi in Vienna (1880-1981) and J. Dupré  in Paris (1881-1882). In Paris she was highly acclaimed by Ambroise Thomas and Charles Gounod. She made her debut in 1882 at the Teatro Niccolini in Firenze as Pierotto in ‘’Linda di Chamounix’’ of G. Donizetti. In 1884 she made her debut as Amneris in ‘’Aida’’ at the Mariinsky Theater of St. Petersburg.She made guest appearances in Tiflis (Concert, 1883), Vienna, Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Warsaw (1891), Paris (Concert, 1888). In 1903 she made 4 records for Columbia.

Chronology of some appearances

1882 Firenze Teatro Niccolini

1882-1883 Barcelona Teatro Liceo

1883 Firenze Teatro Nuovo

1884-1891 St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theater

1895-1903 St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theater

1898 Moscow Bolshoi Theater

1914 St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theater

RECORDING FOR SALE 

 Columbia, St Petersburg 1903?
 Roméo et Juliette (Gounod): Air of the page 35088