Elisabeth Rado
Encyclopedia
Elisabeth Radó was a Yugoslavia
n singer and singing teacher.
Born in Mostar
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
, which in the days before WWI
was still part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. She studied singing with her adoptive mother, the singer Maria Rado, and like many singers, was attracted to the capital city of Vienna
, where she started her career as a concert and opera singer in the 1920’s. She began giving singing lessons in 1931 and became one of the most respected singing teachers in the city. From 1950-1966, she taught singing at the Academy (now: University) of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. She died in Vienna
, on April 3, 1986.
Elisabeth Radó was a woman with strong features, a rather square jaw, and a professorial demeanor. She was a teacher who obviously took her work quite seriously and was highly respected as a voice teacher in Vienna by such professional musicians as Mozart specialist Dr. Ernst Reichert. At one time, she had over 83 students singing in opera theaters throughout Germany
, Switzerland
and Austria
.
Not only was Elisabeth Radó a well-known teacher, she also had an excellent reputation as the teacher of many famous singers, among them baritone
Eberhard Waechter
and tenor
s Fritz Uhl
, Waldemar Kmentt
and Werner Krenn, singers who were in great demand as leading men at the Wiener Staatsoper and in all the major German opera houses. South African baritone George Fourie was one of her students, as was mezzo-soprano Gertrude Jahn or soprano Dorit Hanak. She also taught the Americans Keith Engen, Emile Belcourt, Frederick Guthrie and Joseph Meyers. These last were part of the large groups of Americans who came to Vienna after WWII
to study opera
, both because of the high quality of education found in that city and the low cost compared to study in the United States, as well as the abundant opportunities to start a career by singing in one of the many opera houses in the German speaking countries of Austria, Germany and Switzerland. All of these singers recommended her highly.
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
n singer and singing teacher.
Born in Mostar
Mostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, which in the days before WWI
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
was still part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. She studied singing with her adoptive mother, the singer Maria Rado, and like many singers, was attracted to the capital city of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, where she started her career as a concert and opera singer in the 1920’s. She began giving singing lessons in 1931 and became one of the most respected singing teachers in the city. From 1950-1966, she taught singing at the Academy (now: University) of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. She died in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, on April 3, 1986.
Elisabeth Radó was a woman with strong features, a rather square jaw, and a professorial demeanor. She was a teacher who obviously took her work quite seriously and was highly respected as a voice teacher in Vienna by such professional musicians as Mozart specialist Dr. Ernst Reichert. At one time, she had over 83 students singing in opera theaters throughout Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
.
Not only was Elisabeth Radó a well-known teacher, she also had an excellent reputation as the teacher of many famous singers, among them baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
Eberhard Waechter
Eberhard Waechter (baritone)
Eberhard Wächter was an Austrian baritone, particularly celebrated for his performances in the operas of Mozart, Richard Wagner, and Richard Strauss...
and tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
s Fritz Uhl
Fritz Uhl
Fritz Uhl was an Austrian operatic tenor, particularly associated with Wagner roles.Born in Matzleinsdorf, near Vienna, he studied in Vienna with Elisabeth Radó, and while still a student toured Holland with an operetta troup...
, Waldemar Kmentt
Waldemar Kmentt
Waldemar Kmentt is an Austrian operatic tenor, particularly associated with the German repertory, both opera and operetta....
and Werner Krenn, singers who were in great demand as leading men at the Wiener Staatsoper and in all the major German opera houses. South African baritone George Fourie was one of her students, as was mezzo-soprano Gertrude Jahn or soprano Dorit Hanak. She also taught the Americans Keith Engen, Emile Belcourt, Frederick Guthrie and Joseph Meyers. These last were part of the large groups of Americans who came to Vienna after WWII
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to study opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, both because of the high quality of education found in that city and the low cost compared to study in the United States, as well as the abundant opportunities to start a career by singing in one of the many opera houses in the German speaking countries of Austria, Germany and Switzerland. All of these singers recommended her highly.