Hedy Iracema-Brügelmann
Encyclopedia
Hedy Iracema-Brügelmann (1879–1941) was a German opera
tic soprano
of Brazilian birth. In 1916 she was awarded the Charlottenkreuz
.
, Iracema Brügelmann was the daughter of German parents who had emigrated to Brazil. She later married the merchant and bank director Theodor Brügelmann who was the grandson of industrial pioneer Johann Gottfried Brügelmann. Their son, Hermann Brügelmann, became a notable politician. Her adopted artist name, Iracema, is an anagram of the word America.
Iracema-Brügelmann studied singing at the Cologne Conservatory. On the advice of composer/conductor Max von Schillings
she chose a career in the theatre, after already having established herself as a concert singer. She made her debut at the Hofoper
in Stuttgart
in 1910 as Elisabeth in Wagner
's Tannhäuser
. In 1913 she made a guest appearance at the Royal Opera House
in Covent Garden
as the Marshallin in Richard Strauss
' Der Rosenkavalier
, a role she also sang at the Zurich Opera
in 1917. On 26 September 1915 she sang the title-role in the world premiere performance of Max von Schillings
' opera Mona Lisa
, a role she also sang in Amsterdam in 1916.
She was a member of the Vienna State Opera
from 1917 till 1920, and from 1920 till 1926 she worked at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe
. She had to end her professional singing career due to health problems. After retiring from the stage, she worked as a singing teacher in Karlsruhe. She died in that city in 1941.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
tic 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...
of Brazilian birth. In 1916 she was awarded the Charlottenkreuz
Charlottenkreuz
The Charlottenkreuz was a decoration instituted on 5 January 1916 by King William II of Württemberg and named after his wife, the Queen of Württemberg, Charlotte of Schaumburg-Lippe...
.
Professional career
Born Hedwig Hänsel in Porto AlegrePorto Alegre
Porto Alegre is the tenth most populous municipality in Brazil, with 1,409,939 inhabitants, and the centre of Brazil's fourth largest metropolitan area . It is also the capital city of the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The city is the southernmost capital city of a Brazilian...
, Iracema Brügelmann was the daughter of German parents who had emigrated to Brazil. She later married the merchant and bank director Theodor Brügelmann who was the grandson of industrial pioneer Johann Gottfried Brügelmann. Their son, Hermann Brügelmann, became a notable politician. Her adopted artist name, Iracema, is an anagram of the word America.
Iracema-Brügelmann studied singing at the Cologne Conservatory. On the advice of composer/conductor Max von Schillings
Max von Schillings
Max von Schillings was a German conductor, composer and theatre director. He was chief conductor at the Berlin State Opera from 1919 to 1925....
she chose a career in the theatre, after already having established herself as a concert singer. She made her debut at the Hofoper
Staatsoper Stuttgart
The Staatsoper Stuttgart is a German opera company based in Stuttgart, Germany.-History:The Stuttgart Staatsoper forms part of the Stuttgart State Theatre , which is a a three-branch-theatre complex and represents the largest theatre of its kind in Europe...
in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
in 1910 as Elisabeth in Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
's Tannhäuser
Tannhäuser
Tannhäuser was a German Minnesänger and poet. Historically, his biography is obscure beyond the poetry, which dates between 1245 and 1265...
. In 1913 she made a guest appearance at the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
in Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
as the Marshallin in Richard Strauss
Richard Strauss
Richard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...
' Der Rosenkavalier
Der Rosenkavalier
Der Rosenkavalier is a comic opera in three acts by Richard Strauss to an original German libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. It is loosely adapted from the novel Les amours du chevalier de Faublas by Louvet de Couvrai and Molière’s comedy Monsieur de Pourceaugnac...
, a role she also sang at the Zurich Opera
Zurich Opera
Oper Zürich is an opera company based in Zurich, Switzerland. The company gives performances in the Opernhaus Zürich which has been the company’s home for fifty years.-History:...
in 1917. On 26 September 1915 she sang the title-role in the world premiere performance of Max von Schillings
Max von Schillings
Max von Schillings was a German conductor, composer and theatre director. He was chief conductor at the Berlin State Opera from 1919 to 1925....
' opera Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa (opera)
Mona Lisa, Op. 31 is an opera by the German composer Max von Schillings on a libretto by Beatrice von Dovsky. It was dedicated to the Philosophy Faculty of the University of Heidelberg, where the composer was awarded the title of professor....
, a role she also sang in Amsterdam in 1916.
She was a member of the Vienna State 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...
from 1917 till 1920, and from 1920 till 1926 she worked at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe
Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe
The Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe is a theatre and opera house in Karlsruhe, Germany. It has existed in its present form and place at Ettlinger Tor since 1975...
. She had to end her professional singing career due to health problems. After retiring from the stage, she worked as a singing teacher in Karlsruhe. She died in that city in 1941.