Bertha Schwarz
Encyclopedia
Bertha Schwarz was a coloratura
soprano
opera singer of the late 19th century, often known by her stage name Bianca Bianchi. Her greatest successes were at Vienna
.
Bertha Schwarz was born in Heidelberg
, Germany
on 27 January 1855, the daughter of actors who worked at nearby Mannheim
. As an opera singer she was for many years a prominent member of the company of the Vienna Court Opera
, where her fame was such that an asteroid discovered on 4 September 1880 was named 218 Bianca
in her honour. Two years later Johann Strauss II
was inspired by her to compose his Frühlingsstimmen
waltz for orchestra and solo soprano voice, still familiar today.
Although based in Vienna Bianca Bianchi sometimes performed in other cities of the German and Austrian empires, notably Hamburg
, Carlsruhe
and Budapest
. In 1894 she married the impresario Bernard Pollini, who had been her manager. She died in Salzburg
on 16 February 1947.
Asteroid
218 Bianca
is named in her honour.
Coloratura
Coloratura has several meanings. The word is originally from Italian, literally meaning "coloring", and derives from the Latin word colorare . When used in English, the term specifically refers to elaborate melody, particularly in vocal music and especially in operatic singing of the 18th and...
soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
opera singer of the late 19th century, often known by her stage name Bianca Bianchi. Her greatest successes were at Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
Bertha Schwarz was born in Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on 27 January 1855, the daughter of actors who worked at nearby Mannheim
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
. As an opera singer she was for many years a prominent member of the company of the Vienna Court Opera
Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera is an opera house – and opera company – with a history dating back to the mid-19th century. It is located in the centre of Vienna, Austria. It was originally called the Vienna Court Opera . In 1920, with the replacement of the Habsburg Monarchy by the First Austrian...
, where her fame was such that an asteroid discovered on 4 September 1880 was named 218 Bianca
218 Bianca
218 Bianca is a sizeable Main belt asteroid. It is an S-type asteroid.It was discovered by Johann Palisa on September 4, 1880, in Pola and was named after the Austro-Hungarian opera singer Bianca Bianchi...
in her honour. Two years later Johann Strauss II
Johann Strauss II
Johann Strauss II , also known as Johann Baptist Strauss or Johann Strauss, Jr., the Younger, or the Son , was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas...
was inspired by her to compose his Frühlingsstimmen
Frühlingsstimmen
"Frühlingsstimmen" , Op. 410, is a waltz by Johann Strauss II, written in 1882, for orchestra and solo soprano voice.-History:Strauss dedicated the work to the pianist and composer Alfred Grünfeld...
waltz for orchestra and solo soprano voice, still familiar today.
Although based in Vienna Bianca Bianchi sometimes performed in other cities of the German and Austrian empires, notably Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, Carlsruhe
Carlsruhe
Carlsruhe is the name of several locations:*Karlsruhe, a city in Germany *Carlsruhe, Victoria, a town in Australia*Carlsruhe O/S and Bad Carlsruhe, German names of the village Pokój in Poland...
and Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. In 1894 she married the impresario Bernard Pollini, who had been her manager. She died in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
on 16 February 1947.
Asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
218 Bianca
218 Bianca
218 Bianca is a sizeable Main belt asteroid. It is an S-type asteroid.It was discovered by Johann Palisa on September 4, 1880, in Pola and was named after the Austro-Hungarian opera singer Bianca Bianchi...
is named in her honour.