Born: September 21, 1918 - Luzern, Switzerland
Died: August 2, 2005 - Baden, Switzerland

The Swiss contralto, Margit Conrad, studied at the conservatory of Zurich, where she was a pupil of Ria Ginster. In 1942 she was a prize-winner at the Singing Competition of Geneva, and in the same year began a concert career, which brought her success on international level.

Margit Conrad's singing was part of Swiss music life, including Zürich, the centres of Basel, St. Gallen, Berne, at the International Bach Festival Weeks in Schaffhausen, at the Septembre Musical Montreux, at the Music Festival Weeks Luzern, in Winterthur and Solothurn. She gave concerts in Dresden, Frankfurt a.M., in Bremen, Stuttgart, Vienna, Lisbon, Madrid, at the Berlin Festival Weeks, at the Festival de Strasbourg, in Paris and Nancy.

Margit Conrad brought a rich repertoire to the public, works of J.S. Bach (Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244), Johannes-Passion (BWV 245), B minor Mass (BWV 232), Weihnachts-Oratorium (BWV 248), numerous Cantatas) and Händel (Messiah, Israel in Egypt, Samson, Saul), Beethoven (9^th Symphony, Missa Solemnis), Mozart (Requiem, Missa Solemnis), J. Brahms (Alto Rhapsody), Bruckner (Masses, Te Deum), Verdi (Requiem), Rossini (Petite Messe Solennelle, Stabat Mater), A.Dvorák (Requiem, Stabat Mater), Mendelssohn (Eliah), G. Mahler (8^th Symphony), Arthur Honegger (Roi David), and W.Burkard (Das Jahr). She was also renowned Lieder singer. She appeared occassionally as a guest at the Opera of Zürich, including as Irmentraud in Waffenschmied by Lortzing.

Since 1967 Margit Conrad worked as teacher at the Conservatory of Berne, and from 1973 to 1987 at the Academy for Church and School Music Luzern. She lived in Baden near Zurich.

Recordings: Erato (Speranza in Orfeo by Monteverdi), Claves (Markus-Passion by R. Keiser), DCA (Bach Cantatas and Psalms), Jecklin Disco (Lieder of J. Brahms and Othmar Schoeck)

Source: Operissimo Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (July 2001); Patrick A Casey (son-in-law of Margrit Conrad-Amberg)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (July 2001); Patrick A Casey (January 2007)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Diethard Hellmann

Alto

BWV 119, BWV 129, BWV 200, BWV 1083

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