Opera Singer. A soprano, she is remembered for her performances at the Vienna State Opera (VSO) in a wide variety of roles. Born Elisabeth Letzgroschen, she was trained locally by her future husband Adolf Limley as well as by respected soprano Amalie Materna; Elise gained experience in operetta, joined the opera company of Olomouc in 1894, then in 1895 made her VSO bow as Ines of Meyerbeer's "L'Africaine". Over the years she sang roles ranging from the light coloratura Queen of the Night in Mozart's "The Magic Flute" to the heavily dramatic Brunnhilde of Wagner's "Ring Cycle", her many other assignments including the doll Olympia in Offenbach's "The Tales of Hoffmann", Elsa from Wagner's "Lohengrin", the lost Violetta of Verdi's "La Traviata", Marguerite in Meyerbeer's "Les Huguenots", Mathilde from Rossini's "William Tell", Santuzza of Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana", Leonora from Verdi's "Il Trovatore", and the title leads of Massenet's "Manon" and Bizet's "Carmen". An accomplished oratorio artist who gave acclaimed performances of Verdi's "Manzoni Requiem" and who premiered Mahler's "Das klagende Lied" in 1901, Elise made guest appearances at the German Theatre of Prague in 1904 and at Brunn in 1912, retired from the VSO in 1919, and was a sought-after voice teacher, her students including the legendary soprano Lotte Lehmann. Much of her rather significant recorded legacy is preserved on CD.
Opera Singer. A soprano, she is remembered for her performances at the Vienna State Opera (VSO) in a wide variety of roles. Born Elisabeth Letzgroschen, she was trained locally by her future husband Adolf Limley as well as by respected soprano Amalie Materna; Elise gained experience in operetta, joined the opera company of Olomouc in 1894, then in 1895 made her VSO bow as Ines of Meyerbeer's "L'Africaine". Over the years she sang roles ranging from the light coloratura Queen of the Night in Mozart's "The Magic Flute" to the heavily dramatic Brunnhilde of Wagner's "Ring Cycle", her many other assignments including the doll Olympia in Offenbach's "The Tales of Hoffmann", Elsa from Wagner's "Lohengrin", the lost Violetta of Verdi's "La Traviata", Marguerite in Meyerbeer's "Les Huguenots", Mathilde from Rossini's "William Tell", Santuzza of Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana", Leonora from Verdi's "Il Trovatore", and the title leads of Massenet's "Manon" and Bizet's "Carmen". An accomplished oratorio artist who gave acclaimed performances of Verdi's "Manzoni Requiem" and who premiered Mahler's "Das klagende Lied" in 1901, Elise made guest appearances at the German Theatre of Prague in 1904 and at Brunn in 1912, retired from the VSO in 1919, and was a sought-after voice teacher, her students including the legendary soprano Lotte Lehmann. Much of her rather significant recorded legacy is preserved on CD.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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