Kirsten Flagstad made an unexpected debut at the Metropolitan Opera on 2 February 1935, performing as Sieglinde in Wagner's Die Walküre. While the event was not originally intended to be a major production, radio listeners across the United States heard a performance that immediately established her as a premier operatic soprano of her century.
Early Development and Training
Born in 1895 at Hamar Municipality to conductor Michael Flagstad and pianist Maja Flagstad, she grew up in a household centered on music in Oslo. She received her formal musical instruction in the city, making her stage debut at the National Theatre in 1913 as Nuri in Eugen d'Albert's Tiefland. Her early professional years included recording sessions between 1913 and 1915 and a period with the Opera Comique in Oslo, where she mastered roles such as Desdemona. During these years, she developed a professional reputation for the speed with which she could acquire new repertoire.
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After a decade performing lyric roles and operettas, Flagstad shifted her focus toward heavier dramatic works. She sang in Gothenburg between 1928 and 1934 and performed in a revival of Nielsen's Saul and David in 1930. Her portrayal of Isolde in Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde in 1932 marked a turning point in her vocal development. This progression led her to the Bayreuth Festival, where she sang minor roles in 1933 before taking on parts including Sieglinde and Gutrune in 1934.
Metropolitan Opera Success
Following a successful audition in St Moritz in August 1934, Flagstad joined the Metropolitan Opera under the direction of Giulio Gatti-Casazza. Her presence at the company proved significant during a period of financial instability. Beyond her sold-out performances in works such as Fidelio, Lohengrin, and Parsifal, she utilized radio broadcasts to solicit donations from the public to support the organization. Her reputation expanded internationally, with performances at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and a 1938 concert tour in Australia.
Public Recognition and Later Years
Her career included various media engagements and public appearances in the United States, including concerts at the Hollywood Bowl and a performance in the 1938 film The Big Broadcast of 1938. Her contributions to the arts were recognized through the King's Medal of Merit in Gold in 1935, the Knight of the Order of St. Olav in 1936, and the St. Olav's Medal in 1939. She also holds a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Flagstad died in 1962 in Oslo and was buried at Vestre gravlund.
Fast facts
- Born: 1895, Hamar Municipality
- Died: 1962, Oslo
- Citizenship: Norway
- Occupation: Opera singer
- Metropolitan Opera Debut: 2 February 1935
- Awards: King's Medal of Merit in Gold (1935); Knight of the Order of St. Olav (1936); St. Olav's Medal (1939)
- Burial Site: Vestre gravlund
Questions readers ask
Which Wagnerian roles did Flagstad perform at the Bayreuth Festival?
She sang minor roles in 1933, followed by the roles of Sieglinde in Die Walküre and Gutrune in Götterdämmerung in 1934.
What non-Wagnerian role did she perform at the Metropolitan Opera before the war?
She performed the role of Leonore in the opera Fidelio.
Achievements
- King's Medal of Merit in Gold — 1935
- St. Olav's Medal — 1939
- Knight of the Order of St. Olav — 1936
- Genres: classical music
