Hetty Plümacher (Mezzo-soprano, Contralto)

Born: December 3, 1919 - Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Died: June 3, 2005 - Steinenbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

The German mezzo-soprano, Hetty Plümacher, studied at the College of Music of Cologne.

Hetty Plümacher made her debut in 1943 at the Deutsche Theater in Oslo, however she began her actual stage career in 1946 at the State Opera of Stuttgart, whose member she remained until 1976. In May 1957 she sang at the Schwetzingen Festival in the premiere of the opera Der Revisor by W. Egk, and in June 1966 at the Stuttgart Opera in Siebzehn Tage und vier Minuten by the same composer. The artist made guest appearances in major opera houses in Italy, France, Spain, Norway and Switzerland. She returned often as a guest to the State Operas of Vienna and Munich. In the years 1953-1954 and 1957 she appeared at the Festival of Bayreuth (in 1953-54 as Wellgunde in the Ring Cycle, as Knappe and as Blumenmädchen in Parsifal, in 1954 and 1957 as Rossweisse in Walküre, in 1954 she sang the alto solo in Parsifal). She could be heard at Festival of Salzburg in 1959-1960 as 2^nd Lady in Zauberflöte, and in 1963-1964 as Annina in Rosenkavalier. She had a successful career also as a concert singer. She appeared in England and Portugal, among other places.

Since 1970 Hetty Plümacher was a Professor at the College of Music of Stuttgart.

Hetty Plümacher sang on many recording labels: DGG (Madame Butterfly), Period (Così fan tutte, La finta giardiniera by Mozart), Columbia, Vox, Decca, including also complete operas (Zauberflöte, Walküre, Rheingold).

Source: Operissimo Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (July 2001); Ruud Janssen (February 2006)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (July 2001, May 2010); Manfred Krugmann (Photos 02-11, July 2011)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Hans Grischkat

Alto

BWV 6, BWV 112, BWV 185, BWV 232

Rolf Reinhardt

Alto

BWV 243

Helmuth Rilling

Alto

BWV 249a

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