Helene Wildbrunn Austrian opera singer, soprano Country: Austria

Biography of Helen Wildbrunn

Helen Wildbrunn was an Austrian opera singer and soprano. She began her career in 1907 at the Municipal Theatre in Dortmund, where she performed as a contralto and mezzo-soprano. Throughout her first season, she showcased her talent in 23 different roles.

In 1914, Wildbrunn signed a contract with the Stuttgart Opera House. She primarily performed dramatic roles from Richard Wagner's works. Under the guidance of Rosa Papier-Paumgartner at the "Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde" conservatory, Wildbrunn honed her skills in the field of music. Other notable students of Papier-Paumgartner included Lucie Weidt and Anna Bahr-Mildenburg.

During this time, Wildbrunn married her partner, tenor Karl Wildbrunn. She gradually transitioned to soprano roles while occasionally revisiting her previous roles such as Erda, Fricka, Waltraute, and Brangäne until 1913.

In addition to her performances in Stuttgart, Wildbrunn expanded her repertoire with roles such as Brünnhilde, Leonore, and Amelia. In 1918, she joined the Berlin State Opera and later transferred to the City Opera in 1925, where she shared the stage with Margarete Bäumer in dramatic roles.

In 1919, Wildbrunn made her debut at the Vienna State Opera, where she continued to perform until 1932. Her debut as Kundry in Wagner's "Parsifal" at La Scala in Milan further solidified her reputation as one of the most outstanding dramatic singers of her time.

However, as time went on, Wildbrunn's talent faced the inevitable challenges of aging. In 1927, she appeared as Leonore, accompanied by a brilliant ensemble that included Fritz Krauss, Lotte Schöne, and Paul Bender. Unfortunately, critics did not appreciate her performance, claiming that Wildbrunn had passed the peak of her career.

After 1932, Wildbrunn occasionally appeared in concerts and opera productions. However, her primary occupation became teaching at the Vienna Musical Academy.