The noted German soprano, Rita Streich, was born in Russia and moved to Germany with her parents during her childhood, where she grew up bilingual, something that was extremely helpful during her later career. She studied with Erna Berger, Maria Ivogün, and Willy Domgraf-Fassbänder. Streich was one of the most significant coloratura sopranos of the post-war period. Her debut as an opera singer was in 1943, during World War II, at the Stadttheater (city theatre) of Ústí nad Labem (Aussig) in Bohemia (today, the Czech Republic), in the role of Zerbinetta in Richard Strauss’ opera Ariadne auf Naxos.
So, why am I waxing on about Rita Streich? Her coloratura was exquisite, and her Lieder singing was absolutely beautiful. She was capable of larger roles, such as Sohpie (Der Rosenkavalier). But the main thing that I like about her was that she always sang in the resonance. In fact, if you listen closely, you can hear the sound coming out of the top of her head. Her placement was beautiful.