Tilla Briem (Soprano)

Born: March 31, 1908 - Morhange (Lothringen), Germany
Died: July 20, 1980 - Tierberg by Schwäbisch Hall, Germany

The German soprano, Tilla Briem, began her training at the Conservatory of Würzburg and finished it in Berlin.

Since 1932 Tilla Briem appeared as a concert singer. From 1934 to 1936 she belonged to the ensemble of the Berliner Staatsoper. She sang there roles for high-dramatic soprano, as Leonore in Fidelio, Ariadne in Ariadne auf Naxos by R. Strauss, Brünnhilde in the Nibelungen-Ring and Isolde in Tristan. In 1954 she also worked at the Opera House of Essen in the premiere of the opera Die Brücke von San Louis Rey by Hermann Reutter. However, her principal activity continued to appear as a concert singer. In this area she belonged to the most important German artists of her time. Glamorous concerts brought her successes in the music centres of Germany, Switzerland, France and Hungary. She made guest appearances among other things at the Maggio Musicale of Florence. In 1938 she was awarded the Music Prize of Berlin, where she lived at that time.

After World War II, Tilla Briem continued her career on the concert podium as well as on the stage. She sang now particularly at the Opera House of Essen. At the Salzburg Festival of 1953 she performed a solo role in Judas Makkabäus by George Frideric Handel. In 1961 she was appointed as Professor at the Musikhochschule of Hannover.

Tilla Briem's expressive soprano voice, style-safe in the interpretation, is to be found on DGG Polydor, including complete recordings of Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244) by J.S. Bach and the 9^th Symphony of L.v. Beethoven. On Myto she took part in a complete recording of Messiah by G.F. Handel.

Source: Operissimo Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (May 2004)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (May 2004)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Bruno Kittel

Soprano

BWV 244

Links to other Sites