Opera Singer. A noted dramatic soprano of the late 19th Century, she is best remembered as an interpreter of the works of Richard Wagner. Little is known of her early life and education; she made her professional bow at Graz in 1865, performed light operetta at Vienna's Carltheater, and married actor Karl Friedrich, after which she was sometimes billed as "Materna-Friedrich". Amalie bowed at the Vienna State Opera in 1869 as Selika from Giacomo Meyrbeer's "L'Africaine". Designated Kammersangerin, she was to be a main part of the company for 25 years, singing a number of local and world premieres. A noted Brunnhilde in Wagner's "Ring", she gave the first Vienna performance of "Die Walkure" in 1877 and of "Siegfried" the year following. Amalie also introduced the mezzo role of Amneris in Verdi's "Aida" to Vienna audiences in 1874 and on March 10, 1875, was the title lead for the world premiere of Karl Goldmark's "The Queen of Sheba". No stranger to the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, she sang the first complete "Ring" there in 1876 and in 1882 created the role of Kundry in "Parsifal". Amalie introduced the "Ring" to Berlin in 1881 and toured the United States in 1884 before joining New York's Metropolitan Opera. She bowed at the then-new house on January 5, 1885, as Elisabeth in Wagner's "Tannhauser" and went on to sing Rachel in Jacques Halevy's "La Juive", Valentine from Meyerbeer's "Les Huguenots", and Brunnhilde in "Die Walkure" for New York audiences. Remaining busy at Vienna, she premiered the role of Vivien in Goldmark's now-forgotten 1886 "Merlin" and retired following a New Year's Eve 1894 performance of "Tannhauser". Amalie taught voice in Vienna and was heard one final time as Kundry in a 1913 concert honoring the 100th. anniversary of Wagner's birth. As far as can be determined she made no recordings. Some sources give 1847 as her birth year though "Grove's" confirms the above listed date.
Opera Singer. A noted dramatic soprano of the late 19th Century, she is best remembered as an interpreter of the works of Richard Wagner. Little is known of her early life and education; she made her professional bow at Graz in 1865, performed light operetta at Vienna's Carltheater, and married actor Karl Friedrich, after which she was sometimes billed as "Materna-Friedrich". Amalie bowed at the Vienna State Opera in 1869 as Selika from Giacomo Meyrbeer's "L'Africaine". Designated Kammersangerin, she was to be a main part of the company for 25 years, singing a number of local and world premieres. A noted Brunnhilde in Wagner's "Ring", she gave the first Vienna performance of "Die Walkure" in 1877 and of "Siegfried" the year following. Amalie also introduced the mezzo role of Amneris in Verdi's "Aida" to Vienna audiences in 1874 and on March 10, 1875, was the title lead for the world premiere of Karl Goldmark's "The Queen of Sheba". No stranger to the Bayreuth Festspielhaus, she sang the first complete "Ring" there in 1876 and in 1882 created the role of Kundry in "Parsifal". Amalie introduced the "Ring" to Berlin in 1881 and toured the United States in 1884 before joining New York's Metropolitan Opera. She bowed at the then-new house on January 5, 1885, as Elisabeth in Wagner's "Tannhauser" and went on to sing Rachel in Jacques Halevy's "La Juive", Valentine from Meyerbeer's "Les Huguenots", and Brunnhilde in "Die Walkure" for New York audiences. Remaining busy at Vienna, she premiered the role of Vivien in Goldmark's now-forgotten 1886 "Merlin" and retired following a New Year's Eve 1894 performance of "Tannhauser". Amalie taught voice in Vienna and was heard one final time as Kundry in a 1913 concert honoring the 100th. anniversary of Wagner's birth. As far as can be determined she made no recordings. Some sources give 1847 as her birth year though "Grove's" confirms the above listed date.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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