Edda Moser Biography

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The German soprano Edda Moser was born on October 27, 1938. She is the daughter of the musicologist Hans Joachim Moser.

Moser made her debut as Kate Pinkerton, in 1962. In 1968, she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera, in the role of Wellgunde in Das Rheingold, and sang there several roles for 9 seasons. These roles included the parts of Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) and the Königin der Nacht (Die Zauberflöte), both by Mozart.

She maintained an extensive repertoire, singing both dramatic coloratura and lirico spinto roles.

One of the sound samples of the Voyager Golden Record is the Queen of the Night aria, from Die Zauberflöte, sung by Moser, from the recording by Wolfgang Sawallisch.

She played a marvelous Donna Anna in Joseph Losey's movie of Don Giovanni.

Her singing had a dramatic intensity and excitement about it that made the classical musical pieces she sang - whether opera, operetta, or lieder - emotionally satisfying experiences, as well as technically masterful works of singing. Her gift for dramatic interpretation was similar to that of Maria Callas and Renata Scotto: when you listen to an aria sung by Moser, it's difficult to listen to the same aria by other, less dramatically exciting sopranos, no matter how beautiful the voice.

Hers was also a beautiful instrument, as testified by a listen to her singing of the Donna Anna role from Mozart's Don Giovanni (examples: her "Crudele? Ah no! mio ben!" and "Or sai chi l'onore"), of the "Liebestod" from Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, and of various lieder, especially that of Johannes Brahms and Robert Schumann (example: her rendition of Brahms's "die Mainacht", Op. 43 No.2).

de:Edda Moser

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