Elise Wiedermann (31 August 1851 – 24 July 1922) was a Viennese-born

soprano A soprano () is a type of classical singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hertz, Hz to A5 in Choir, choral ...

who performed and taught singing in

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

, Australia from 1883.

Early life and education

Elise Wiedermann was born in Vienna, Austria on 31 August 1851 to Elise (née Aschinger) and Carl Wiedermann. She studied singing at the

Vienna Conservatorium The Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna (; MUK) in Vienna, Austria, is a university of music and the arts. It was previously (2005−2015) named (KONSuni, Konservatorium Wien University), and before that (Conservatory of Vienna). I ...

, where she was taught by

Mathilde Marchesi Mathilde Marchesi (; 24 March 1821 – 17 November 1913) was a German mezzo-soprano, a singing teacher, and a proponent of the bel canto vocal method. Biography Mathilde Graumann was born in Frankfurt. Her aunt was the pianist Dorothea von Er ...

and was awarded laureate in 1873.

Career

Wiedermann's first professional performances were with the

Komische Oper The Komische Oper Berlin is a German opera company based in Berlin. The company produces operas, operettas and musicals. The opera house is located on Behrenstraße, near Unter den Linden. Since 2004, the Komische Oper Berlin, along with the ...

and

Carltheater The Carltheater was a theatre in Vienna. It was in the suburbs in Leopoldstadt at Praterstraße 31 (at that time called Jägerzeile). It was the successor to the Leopoldstädter Theater. After a series of financial difficulties, that theater had ...

in Vienna, the latter under the baton of

Franz von Suppé Franz von Suppé, born Francesco Ezechiele Ermenegildo de Suppé (18 April 181921 May 1895) was an Austrian composer of light operas and other theatre music. He came from the Kingdom of Dalmatia, Austro-Hungarian Empire (now part of Croatia). A c ...

. She subsequently performed in Zürich in 1875 and then at the Court Theatre Braunschweig for five years. She became engaged to Viennese-born Carl Pinschof in 1880. He migrated to Melbourne where she followed in 1883. The couple were married on 19 August 1883 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Hawthorn. After her marriage, the Austro-Hungarian government forced her to give up singing in public or for remuneration and she could perform at private events only. She and her husband became patrons of music and art, supporting the

Melbourne Conservatorium of Music The Melbourne Conservatorium of Music is the music school at the University of Melbourne and part of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, University of Melbourne, Faculty of Fine Arts and Music. It is located near the Melbourne City Centre on the S ...

founded by George Marshall-Hall and opening their home, "Studley Hall" in

Kew Kew () is a district in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Its population at the 2011 census was 11,436. Kew is the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens ("Kew Gardens"), now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace. Kew is ...

for musical performances. Recognising the talent of

Nellie Melba Dame Nellie Melba (born Helen Porter Mitchell; 19 May 186123 February 1931) was an Australian operatic lyric coloratura soprano. She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian era and the early twentieth century, and was the f ...

, Wiedemann provided her with a letter of introduction to her teacher, Mathilde Marchesi. Her students included

Florence Austral Florence Austral (26 April 1892 – 15 May 1968) was an Australian operatic dramatic soprano renowned for her interpretation of the most demanding Wagnerian female roles, although she never gained the opportunity to appear at the Bayreuth Festiv ...

, Evelyn Scotney and Elsa Stralia.

Death and legacy

Wiedermann died on 24 July 1922 at her home, "Lewisham", Lewisham Road,

Windsor Windsor may refer to: Places *Detroit–Windsor, Michigan-Ontario, USA-Canada, North America; a cross-border metropolitan region Australia New South Wales *Windsor, New South Wales ** Municipality of Windsor, a former local government area Queen ...

. Survived by her husband and three daughters, she was buried on 26 July in the Lutheran section of Booroondara Cemetery. The chancellor of

Melbourne University The University of Melbourne (colloquially known as Melbourne University) is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in the state of Victoria. Its ...

, Sir John MacFarland, unveiled a tablet in her memory in Melba Hall in 1923.

References

External links

Elise Pinschof Wiederman
– 1899 portrait by Tom Roberts held in Art Gallery of New South Wales {{DEFAULTSORT:Wiedermann, Elise 1851 births 1922 deaths Sopranos from Austria-Hungary Emigrants from Austria-Hungary 19th-century Australian musicians People from the Colony of Victoria Australian operatic sopranos Singers from Melbourne Voice teachers Musicians from Vienna Austrian operatic sopranos 19th-century Australian women musicians Austrian emigrants to Australia