Charlotte in Massenet's Werther served as the 1922 operatic debut for Romanian dramatic soprano Viorica Ursuleac in Zagreb. Over the following decades, she established herself as a fundamental figure in European opera, noted for a disciplined vocal technique and a long-standing creative partnership with conductor Clemens Krauss.
Professional Trajectory
Born in Chernivtsi in 1894, Ursuleac pursued musical training at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. Her career spanned major European institutions, including the Vienna Volksoper from 1924 to 1926, followed by tenures at the Frankfurt Opera, Vienna State Opera, Berlin State Opera, and the Bavarian State Opera. Her international profile included performances at La Scala in Milan and a 1934 season at Covent Garden, where she performed in the first UK presentations of Jaromír Weinberger's Schwanda the Bagpiper and Strauss's Arabella.
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The composer Richard Strauss identified Ursuleac as his preferred soprano, describing her as the most faithful of all the faithful. This professional alignment resulted in her participation in the world premieres of four Strauss works: Arabella, Friedenstag, Capriccio, and the public dress rehearsal of Die Liebe der Danae. Friedenstag was specifically dedicated to Ursuleac and her husband, Clemens Krauss.
Rescue Operations
During the 1930s, Ursuleac and Krauss collaborated with British opera enthusiasts Ida and Louise Cook to assist Jewish families in leaving the country. Krauss provided logistical cover by scheduling opera performances in locations that facilitated the escape operations. Records indicate that this coordinated effort successfully aided at least 29 Jewish families.
Later Years and Legacy
Ursuleac concluded her performance career in 1953 with a final appearance in Der Rosenkavalier in Wiesbaden. She transitioned to academia in 1964, accepting a professorship at the Salzburg Mozarteum. Her recorded legacy includes various excerpts for Deutsche Grammophon and live recordings from the 1930s and 1940s. She resided in Ehrwald, Tyrol, until her death in 1985 at age 91.
Fast facts
- Born: 1894, Chernivtsi
- Died: 1985, Ehrwald
- Citizenship: Romania
- Education: University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
- Primary Field: Opera
- Awards: Austrian Kammersängerin (1934), Prussian Kammersängerin (1935)
- Spouse: Clemens Krauss
- Burial Place: Berlin
Questions readers ask
What were Viorica Ursuleac’s primary operatic roles?
Her extensive repertoire included Arabella, the Countess Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Leonore in Fidelio, and roles in various works by Wagner and Verdi.
Did Viorica Ursuleac perform in the United States?
Her only appearances in the Americas took place at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires in 1948, where she sang the role of Brangäne in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde.
Achievements
- Genres: opera
