Her real name was Mathilde
Klara Jonas. She studied at the Stern Conservatory in Berlin and later with
Curt Hoche in Wiesbaden. She began her stage career under her real name in 1911
at the Lübeck City Theater, where she remained until 1913. She then sang at the
Hamburg City Theater from 1913 to 1914, and at the Wiesbaden Court Theater from
1914 to 1916. In 1914, she married the American baritone Harry de Garmo
(1887–1919), who was also engaged at the Wiesbaden Court Theater.
From 1916 to 1917, she was engaged at the Essen City Theater, then
from 1921 to 1923 at the Elberfeld City Theater, and from 1923 to 1926 at the
Deutsches Theater in Prague. In 1924, she married the conductor Fritz Zweig
(1893–1984).
From 1926 to 1933, she was a respected member of the Berlin State
Opera, where she participated in the premiere of Franz Schreker’s opera Der
singende Teufel (The Singing Devil) on December 10, 1928. In 1927, she made
guest appearances at the Dresden State Opera, and in 1928 at the Berlin Kroll
Opera as Micaëla in Carmen. She also appeared as a guest at the Berlin City
Opera and the Frankfurt Opera House.
Her stage repertoire included roles such as Susanna in The Marriage of
Figaro, Gretchen in Lortzing’s Der Wildschütz, Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier,
Marie in Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, Urbain in Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots,
Micaëla in Carmen, and operetta parts such as Adele in Die Fledermaus.
In 1933, she left Germany with her husband for political reasons and
worked in Paris as a concert soprano and teacher. In 1940, she fled to North
America and later lived in Hollywood, where she continued to teach singing
alongside Fritz Zweig.
She possessed a virtuosic, melodious coloratura voice with exceptional
expressive versatility.
TRACKLIST
Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Pagenarie A425 Ultraphon, Berlin
Bohème (Puccini) Lebt wohl ihr süssen Stunden (Addio dolce svegliare)
(w. Hüni-Mihacsek, de Garmo & Scheidl) 66764 (B25158) 1204bm Polydor,
Berlin 1928
Götterdämmerung (Wagner) Frau Sonne sendet (w. Kindermann &
Marherr-Wagner) EJ 416 6-0527 CLR4488-1 HMV, Berlin 1928-09-10
Götterdämmerung (Wagner) He! He! He! (w. Laubenthal, Kindermann &
Marherr-Wagner) 2-042060 EJ 417 CLR4490-1 HMV, Berlin 1928-09-10
Götterdämmerung (Wagner) Ich höre sein Horn (w. Laubenthal, Kindermann
& Marherr-Wagner) EJ 417 2-042059 CLR4489-1 HMV, Berlin 1928-09-10
Götterdämmerung (Wagner) Kommt Schwestern! (w. Laubenthal, Kindermann
& Marherr-Wagner) EJ 418 2-042061 CLR4491-2 HMV, Berlin 1928-09-10
Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Pagenarie A425 Ultraphon, Berlin
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