Morena (real name, Meyer), Berta
Morena (real name, Meyer), Berta
Morena (real name, Meyer), Berta, noted German soprano; b. Mannheim, Jan. 27, 1878; d. Rottach-Egern, Oct. 7,1952. Her buxom beauty attracted the attention of the famous painter von Lenbach, who persuaded her to study voice with Sophie Röhr-Brajnin and Aglaja von Orgeni in Munich; after additional training with Regina de Sales, she made her operatic debut as Agathe in Der Freischütz at the Munich Court Opera (1898); remained on its roster until 1927. She made her American debut with the Metropolitan Opera in N.Y. as Sieglinde (March 4, 1908), remaining on its roster until 1909; then returned from 1910 to 1912 and in 1924–25. She was regarded in Germany as an intelligent and musicianly singer, excelling particularly in Wagnerian roles, including Elisabeth, Elsa, Eva, Isolde, and the 3 Brünnhildes.
Bibliography
A. Vogl, B. M. und ihre Kunst (Munich,1919).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire