Dorothea Manski (Soprano) (New York 11. 3. 1895 † Atlanta City, Georgia 24. 2. 1967)

                                                                            Isolde

As a child she came to Berlin, where she studied singing under the pedagogue  Emmy Raabe-Burg. She made her debut at the Hofoper in Berlin (1913-1914). There she sang among other things the part of Tebaldo in G. Verdi's ''Don Carlo'' and participated in the Berlin première of ''Parsifal'' (1914). In the 1914-1919 seasons she appeared at the  Nationaltheater in Mannheim (among other things in 1917 the title role in the premiere of ''Sharazade'' by Bernhard Sekles). In the 1919-1921 seasons she was a soloist of the Staatsoper in Stuttgart. In the 1922-1926 seasons she was engaged by the Berlin Staatsoper. In 1927 she joined to the ensemble of Metropolitan Opera in New York (debut: Witch in ''Hansel und Gretel'' of Humperdinck). She appeared at the Metropolitan Opera from 1927 to 1941. Here her repertoire included Elsa in ''Lohengrin'', Venus in ''Tannhäuser’', Ortrud in ''Lohengrin'', Gutrune in "Götterdämmerung", Chrysothemis in ''Elektra'' of R. Strauss, Herodias in ''Salome'', Giulietta in ''Les contes d'Hoffmann'' and as Marianne Leitmetzerin in "Rosenkavalier". In 1933 she substituted Frida Leider as Brünnhilde in "Walküre". Nevertheless, her star role remained the witch in ''Hansel und Gretel''. In 1930, 1935 and 1936 she performed at the San Francisco Opera, in 1938 at the Chicago Opera. In the 1933-1934 season, during the Salzburg festival, she sang the part of Isolde in R. Wagner's ''Tristan und Isolde'' under Bruno Walter. In 1934 she appeared as a guest at the Staatsoper in Wien. In 1942 she became a professor of the Indiana University in Bloomington, where she also had her residence. The soprano Felicia Weathers belonged to her pupils. She was married the Swedish music critic Walter Brandon. Her daughter Inge Manski also became a successful singer.

Chronology of some appearances

1913 Berlin Hofoper Don Carlo (Tebaldo)

1914 Berlin Hofoper Parsifal (1. Knappen)  

1917 Mannheim Nationaltheater Scheherazade (Scheherazade)
1927 New York Metropolitan Opera House Hänsel und Gretel (witch Marzipan)

1927 Philadelphia Academy of Music Hänsel und Gretel (witch Marzipan)

1931 New York Metropolitan Opera Boccaccio (Isabella)

1931 Philadelphia Academy of Music Boccaccio (Isabella)

1931 New York Academy of Music Boccaccio (Isabella)

1932 New York Metropolitan Opera Il signor Bruschino ossia Il figlio per azzardo (Aufseherin)

1932 New York Metropolitan Opera  Donna Juanita (Donna Olimpia)

1932 Philadelphia Opera House Donna Juanita (Donna Olimpia)

1932 Philadelphia Academy of Music Hänsel und Gretel (witch Marzipan)

1932 New York Academy of Music Donna Juanita (Donna Olimpia)

1933 Salzburg festival Tristan und Isolde (Isolde)

1934 Salzburg festival Tristan und Isolde (Isolde) 

1938 New York Metropolitan Opera House Amelia goes to the Ball (housekeeper-overseer) 

1938 Philadelphia Academy of Music Der Rosenkavalier (Marianne)

1949 New York Metropolitan Opera Faust (Siebel) 

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Gramophone, Berlin 1913-02-28
Undine (Lortzing): Nun ist's vollbracht with Koerfer & chorus 044232 326al
Undine (Lortzing): Schwanensang with Koerfer & chorus 044233 327al

Vox, Berlin 1921/1922
Fliegende Holländer (Wagner): Traft ihr das Schiff (Senta-Ballade) 2009 379B
Mignon (Thomas): Kennst du das Land 2009 380B

Listen Music - Listen Audio Files -