Swiss soprano Edith Mathis has passed away at the age of 86. Born in Lucerne in 1938, she trained at the city’s conservatory before making her operatic debut in 1956 as the Second Boy in Die Zauberflöte. In the following years, she established herself in leading European opera houses, first in Cologne and Hamburg and later at the Salzburg Festival, where she became a regular presence. By 1970, she had expanded her career internationally, making her debuts at both Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera. She continued to perform at major venues, including the Vienna State Opera, the Bavarian State Opera, and the Opéra de Paris.
Mathis was widely recognized for her interpretations of Mozart, singing roles such as Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Despina in Così fan tutte, and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte. Her repertoire extended beyond Mozart to include Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier, Agathe in Der Freischütz, and parts in contemporary works, such as Hans Werner Henze’s Der junge Lord. Alongside her opera career, she was active as a recitalist and concert singer, performing oratorios and Lieder across Europe, Japan, the United States, Australia, Russia, and Israel. She collaborated with conductors such as Leonard Bernstein, Herbert von Karajan, and Karl Böhm, and her recordings include performances of Mahler symphonies and works by Bach and Schubert
In the later years of her career, Mathis focused on teaching, offering masterclasses and serving as a professor in Vienna. Her influence extended beyond the opera world, particularly through a widely recognized recording of Sull’aria from Le nozze di Figaro, performed with Gundula Janowitz, which was featured in the film The Shawshank Redemption. Her contributions to opera and vocal music, both as a performer and teacher, left a lasting impact on generations of singers and audiences.
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