Elsa Cavelti (Mezzo-soprano)

Born: May 4, 1907 - Rorschach, Switzerland
Died: August 10, 2001 - Basel, Switzerland

The Swiss mezzo-soprano, Elsa Cavelti, was the daughter of Johann Mathias, editor of newspapers. She studied piano and singing in Zürich, Frankfurt-am-Main and Vienna.

Elsa Cavelti made her debut at the City Theatre of Katowice (Poland) in 1936. She sang in Frankfurt-am-Main, with the State Theatre of Beuthen (Silesia, near Bytom, Poland), in Düsseldorf and at the National Opera of Dresden before joining the City Theatre of Zürich as dramatic alto. Extended tours of concerts and operas led her to the principal European and American stages. She sang many times at the premiers of Swiss composers (Paul Huber, Othmar Schoek, Frank Martin, Willy Burkhard, Rudolf Kelterborn, etc). In 1959 she undertook new studies which enabled her to sing also as dramatic soprano.

In 1964, the Academy of State of Frankfurt-am-Main offered Elsa Cavelti a post of Professor. After that she also taught in Basel where she lived.

Source: Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse Website (September 2001), English translation by Aryeh Oron (May 2001); Photos by courtesy of Marcelo Galvao
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (May 2002)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Hans Münch

Alto

BWV 245

Walter Reinhart

Alto

BWV 243

Links to other Sites

Elsa Cavelti (Mild und Leise) [German]

Cavelti, Elsa (DHS) [German] [N/A]