Popp, Lucia (1939–1993)
Popp, Lucia (1939–1993)
Czech lyric soprano. Born in Uhorská Ves, Czechoslovakia, on November 12, 1939; died of a brain tumor, age 54, in Munich, Germany, on November 16, 1993; studied with Anna Hrusovska-Prosenková.
Debuted at Bratislava Opera (1963); debuted in Vienna as Barbariana in The Marriage of Figaro at Vienna Theater an der Wien (1963); asked to join the Vienna State Opera by Herbert von Karajan (1963); first appeared at Covent Garden (1966), Metropolitan Opera (1967); made an Austrian Kammersängerin (court singer, 1979).
Lucia Popp, who was born in Uhorská Ves, Czechoslovakia, in 1939, studied with Anna Hrusovska-Prosenková . In the beginning, the clarity of her highest notes won her considerable acclaim for roles such as the Queen of the Night in Mozart's Magic Flute, and her voice continued to grow throughout her career. As it developed, she began to perform most of Mozart's soubrette parts and much of the traditional lyric soprano repertoire. In the last decades, she sang Wagner, moving into roles for more powerful spinto voices. Popp also matured as an actress, making dramatic roles and lyric repertoire well within her abilities. She made over 75 recordings, including her interpretations of Handel, Mahler, Janacek and Puccini.
John Haag , Athens, Georgia