Gerda Schriever (Mezzo-soprano, Contralto)

Born: August 27, 1928 - Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
Died: May 29, 2014 - Leipzig, Saxony, Germany

The German mezzo-soprano/contralto (oratorio and concert singer), Gerda Schriever, sang at an early age of 16 Gewandhauschor under Hermann Abendroth and choir-master Günther Ramin and then, from 1948 to 1953, she studied singing at the Musikhochschule Leipzig.

Gerda Schriever's solo career began while studying under Diethard Hellmann (in 1951 Weihnachts-Oratorium (BWV 248) and in 1952 Johannes-Passion (BWV 245) by J.S. Bach) and a first Lieder recital in Leipzig, after she had in 1952 received the Carl-Maria-von-Weber Prize for outstanding Lieder performance. In 1953 she was awarded at the International Music Competition in Geneva with the diploma as the best German singer.

Gerda Schrievers repertoire included works of the Baroque, Romantic and Modern eras. From 1954 on she was for more than two decades soloist with the Thomanerchor Leipzig. Under the Thomaskantors Günther Ramin, Kurt Thomas, Erhard Mauersberger and Hans-Joachim Rotzsch and with the Dresdner Kreuzchor under Rudolf Mauersberger and Martin Flämig she sang cantatas and oratorios at home and abroad and participated in Bach and Handel festivals and in radio and recordings. From 1968 to 1972 she was beside Adele Stolte, Hans-Joachim Rotzsch, Hermann Christian Polster a member of the Leipziger Bachsolisten and an internationally appreciated Lieder singer.

In addition to her concert schedule Gerda Schriever taught singing at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy“ in Leipzig. In 1992 she was appointed as Honorary Professor.

Sources:
Germam Wikipedia Website (May 2014),
Contributed by: Matthias Hansen (Photo 01, January 2010; Bio, June 2014)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Erhard Mauersberger

Alto

BWV 62
[CR-13] (1967 or earlier, Radio recording): BWV 13
[CR-60] (After 1966? , Radio recording): BWV 60
[CR-74] (1967, Radio recording): BWV 74
[CR-85] (1964, Radio recording): BWV 85
[CR-86] (c1964, Radio recording): BWV 86
[CR-116] (1962, Radio recording): BWV 116
[CR-136] (1962?, Radio recording): BWV 136
[CR-149] (1967, Radio recording): BWV 149
[CR-180] (1969, Radio recording): BWV 180
[CR-182] (1966, Radio recording): BWV 182
[CR-200] (1962, Radio recording): BWV 200

Erhard & Rudolf Mauersberger

Alto

BWV 244

Günther Ramin

Alto

BWV 42, BWV 92, BWV 177
[CR-102] (1955, Radio recording): BWV 102

Hans-Joachim Rotzsch

Alto

BWV 44, BWV 112
[CR-129] (Mid 1970's, Radio recording): BWV 129

Links to other Sites

Gerdas Schriever (Wikipedia) [German]