Elise Wiedermann

Elise Wiedermann
Background information
Born(1851-08-31)31 August 1851
Vienna, Austria
Died24 July 1922(1922-07-24) (aged 70)
Windsor, Victoria, Australia
GenresOpera
OccupationsSoprano, singing teacher

Elise Wiedermann (31 August 1851 – 24 July 1922) was a Viennese-born soprano who performed and taught singing in Melbourne, Australia from 1883.

Early life and education

[edit]

Elise Wiedermann was born in Vienna, Austria on 31 August 1851 to Elise (née Aschinger) and Carl Wiedermann.[1] She studied singing at the Vienna Conservatorium, where she was taught by Mathilde Marchesi[2] and was awarded laureate in 1873.[1]

Career

[edit]

Wiedermann's first professional performances were with the Komische Oper and Carltheater in Vienna, the latter under the baton of Franz von Suppé.[3] She subsequently performed in Zürich in 1875 and then at the Court Theatre Braunschweig for five years.[3]

She became engaged to Viennese-born Carl Pinschof in 1880.[1] 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.[4] After her marriage, the Austro-Hungarian government forced her to give up singing in public or for remuneration[1] and she could perform at private events only.

She and her husband became patrons of music and art, supporting the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music founded by George Marshall-Hall[5] and opening their home, "Studley Hall" in Kew for musical performances.[1] Recognising the talent of Nellie Melba, Wiedemann provided her with a letter of introduction to her teacher, Mathilde Marchesi.[2]

Her students included Florence Austral, Evelyn Scotney and Elsa Stralia.[2]

Death and legacy

[edit]

Wiedermann died on 24 July 1922 at her home, "Lewisham", Lewisham Road, Windsor.[6] Survived by her husband and three daughters, she was buried on 26 July in the Lutheran section of Booroondara Cemetery.[7]

The chancellor of Melbourne University, Sir John MacFarland, unveiled a tablet in her memory in Melba Hall in 1923.[8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Middelmann, Raoul F. (1988). "Wiedermann, Elise (1851–1922)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 11. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943.
  2. ^ a b c "The Link Between". Smith's Weekly. Vol. IV, no. 24. New South Wales, Australia. 5 August 1922. p. 12. Retrieved 27 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ a b Niehoff, Pamela Mary (1991). The Pinschofs: patrons of art and music in Melbourne 1883–1920 (masters thesis). Department of Dine Arts, University of Melbourne. p. 8. hdl:11343/39094.
  4. ^ "Family Notices". The Argus. No. 11, 606. Melbourne, Australia. 1 September 1883. p. 1. Retrieved 27 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Current Topics". The Sydney Mail. Vol. XXI, no. 541. New South Wales, Australia. 9 August 1922. p. 7. Retrieved 27 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Mme. Wiedermann". The Argus. No. 23, 703. Melbourne, Australia. 25 July 1922. p. 6. Retrieved 27 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Funeral of Late Madame Wiedermann". The Herald. No. 14, 464. Victoria, Australia. 26 July 1922. p. 3. Retrieved 27 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Melba Hall Memorials". The Argus. No. 23, 919. Melbourne, Australia. 5 April 1923. p. 6. Retrieved 27 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elise_Wiedermann&oldid=1192620940"