Irmgard Seefried

Who was Irmgard Seefried?

Irmgard Seefried was a distinguished German soprano who sang opera and lieder.

Maria Theresia Irmgard Seefried was born in Köngetried, near Mindelheim, Bavaria, Germany, the daughter of educated Austrian-born parents. She studied at Augsburg University before making her debut in Aachen as the priestess in Verdi's Aida in 1940. She began to sing the leading parts in 1942 by singing the part of Agathe in Weber's Der Freischütz in 1942, and the next year she made her debut at Vienna State Opera by singing the part of Eva in Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg conducted by Karl Böhm. From then on, she remained with the ensemble of the Vienna State Opera until her retirement in 1976.

She sang at the Salzburg Festival every year from 1946 to 1964 in operas, concerts and recitals.

She appeared at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London from 1947 to 1949, and also La Scala in Milan, the Edinburgh Festival, etc. She made her Metropolitan Opera in New York debut in November 1953 as Susanna in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro and appeared there for only one season, in five performances of the part of Susanna.