Merrem-Nikisch, Grete
Merrem-Nikisch, Grete
Merrem-Nikisch, Grete, German soprano; b. Düren, July 7, 1887; d. Kiel, March 12, 1970. She studied with Schulz-Dornburg in Cologne and Marie Hed-mondt at the Leipzig Cons. In 1910 she made her operatic debut at the Leipzig Opera, where she sang until 1913. In 1911 she made her first appearance at the Berlin Royal Opera, where she was a member (1913–18), and then of its successor, the State Opera (1918–30). She was known for her lyric roles, and for her Eva and Sophie. She also sang in Dresden, where she appeared in the premieres of Die toten Augen (1916), Intermezzo (1924), and Cardillac (1926). From 1918 she likewise pursued a fine career as a lieder artist. In later years, she taught at the Univ. of Kiel. In 1914 she married the eldest son of Arthur Nikisch.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire