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The German contralto, Hildegard Rütgers, studied with Hermann Weissenborn in Berlin, then in Milan, finally at the Folkwang-Hochschule in Essen with Hilde Wesselmann. She also got music science training at the University of Köln and at the Freien Universität (Free University) of Berlin.
From 1957 to 1959 Hildegard Rütgers belonged to the Städtischen Oper Berlin and had thereafter engagements at the Staatsoper of Hamburg and at the Opera House of Essen until 1963. Since that time she accepted no more firm engagements, but was limited to individual stage appearances, above all she became however a sought after soloist for concert and oratorio alto parts. In 1958-1959 she had special successes with oratorio performances with the big choirs in Berlin. In 1963-1965 she sang at the Festival of Salzburg smaller roles in Zauberflöte and in Elektra by R. Strauss. Concert tours brought her big successes in Germany as in the music centres of Europe in a varied repertoire. In 1965 she undertook a big North America tour, in which she performed particularly works of J.S. Bach and George Frideric Handel
Recordings: DGG (selection from Rigoletto), Cantate (Bach Cantatas), Vox (recordings from the USA), Fono (Magnificat (BWV 243a) by J.S. Bach, Intercord. |
