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The German contralto and music poedagogue, Heidi Rieß-Berthold, was born in Chemnitz to Irma and Heinz Rieß. She first I got a decent profession, stenographer. From 1960 to 1962, she applied herself f with the movement of young talents and occupied a leading position. This opened her opportunity to study at the Hochschule für Musik in Leipzig (Singing with Professor Eva Fleischer). After 6 years she graduated successfully in 1968.
In 1968, after graduating, Heidi Rieß started teaching at the Hochschule in Leipzig. The positions as assistant and senior assistant were essential milestones, as well as the appointment as Professor of voice in 1992. After 35 years of working, she retired in 2003 from from full-time teaching.
Besides working at the Hochschule, including supporting young people in the way to a musical career, Heidi Rieß pursued her own artistic career as a concert singer. The first highlight was the 1st prize at the International Bach Competition in Leipzig, followed by the 2nd prize at the International Music Competition of Geneva (1st prize was not awarded) and other 1st prize at Sofia Singing Competition and at the Robert Schumann Competition in Zwickau in 1969.
In the following years and decades Heidi Rieß had a comprehensive and diverse concert career, appearing with famous orchestras and choirs (Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Leipzig, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester-Berlin, Dresdner Philharmonie, Thomanerchor Leipzig, Dresdner Kreuzchor), in many countries in the world (Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary and Japan). She sang at the Bachfest Leipzig and Internationales Bachfest Schaffhausen, Flanders Festival, Händel-Festspiele Halle and Händel-Festspiele Halle, under the the baton of Kurt Masur, Hans-Joachim Rotzsch, Herbert Blomstedt, Helmut Koch, Heinz Rögner, Herbert Kegel, Charles de Wolff and other renowned conductors.
Heidi Rieß appeared in numerous opera and lieder recitals on radio, television and on LP recordings (Eterna). |
