Hilde Zadek

Hildegard Zadek was a German operatic soprano born on 15 December 1917 in Bromberg. Forced to leave Germany due to her Jewish heritage in 1934, she settled in mandatory Palestine and studied voice with Rose Pauly. She returned to Europe in 1945, continuing her education at the Zurich Conservatory under Ria Ginster. Zadek made her acclaimed operatic debut on 3 February 1947 at the Vienna State Opera in the title role of Verdi's Aida, a theater where she remained until 1971. In 1948, she debuted at the Salzburg Festival in roles such as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni and the title role of Ariadne auf Naxos. Her extensive career included the world premiere of Carl Orff's Antigonae in 1949 and guest appearances at the Royal Opera House and La Scala. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Donna Anna in 1952. Zadek taught at the Vienna Music Academy starting in 1967 and retired from the stage in 1971 after performing in Die Walküre. She died on 21 February 2019 in Karlsruhe.