Köth, Erika (1925–1989)

German soprano. Born on September 15, 1925, in Darmstadt, Germany; died on February 20, 1989; studied with Elsa Blank in Darmstadt.

Debuted in Kaiserslautern (1948); sang in Karlsruhe (1950–53), in Munich (from 1954), in Berlin (from 1961), in Salzburg (1955–65); appeared at Bayreuth (1965–68); made a Bavarian Kammersängerin (1956) and a Berlin Kammersängerin (1970); professor at the Hochschule für Musik (1973).

Erika Köth was born in Darmstadt, Germany, in 1925, and sang with a dance orchestra in order to pay for her musical education. She won a singing competition sponsored by the Hesse Radio and made her debut the following year. From 1950 until 1953, Köth was engaged by the City Theater in Karlsruhe. Joining the Munich State Opera in 1954, she then appeared with the Vienna State Opera. Erika Köth sang Constanze in Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serial in 1955–57 and 1962–63 with sensational reviews. Between 1955 and 1960, she also sang the Queen of the Night. Köth appeared at Teatro alla Scala, the Opera in Rome, and Covent Garden. She toured Russia in 1961. From 1965 until 1968, she performed in the role of the Waldvogel in Siegfried. Erika Köth made many recordings of complete operas and appeared frequently on television. Her voice was described by one critic as "exquisitely beautiful with an especially luminous top." In addition to opera, she also sang coloratura waltzes and chansons. Her broad repertoire and beautiful voice made Köth one of Germany's important coloratura sopranos after World War II.

John Haag , Athens, Georgia