Johanna Jachmann-Wagner or Johanna Wagner (13 October 1828 â€" 16
October 1894) was a mezzo-soprano singer, tragédienne in theatrical
drama, and teacher of singing and theatrical performance who won great
distinction in Europe during the third quarter of the 19th century.
She was a niece of the composer Richard Wagner and was the original
performer, and in some respects the inspiration, of the character of
Elisabeth in Tannhäuser. She was also the original intended performer
of Brünnhilde in Der Ring des Nibelungen, but in the event assumed
other roles.Johanna Wagner was born in Seelze, Hanover. She was the
natural daughter of a soldier named Bock von Wülfingen, and was
adopted by Albert Wagner (1799â€"1874) (eldest brother of Richard) and
his wife Elise (1800â€"1864). They had two other daughters. From
Seelze the family moved to Würzburg in 1830, where both parents
worked in the Royal Bavarian Theatre, father being an actor, singer
and stage-manager. She received piano lessons from her mother, a Roman
Catholic, and sang duets with the Landgräfin of Hessen, who took
singing lessons from her father. Richard Wagner visited in 1833 (while
composing Die Feen) and often accompanied her singing Carl Loewe's
ballad "Edward". Johanna knew the young Marie Seebach (later wife of
Wagnerian singer Albert Niemann), who attended the same confirmation
class.She showed aptitude for the stage as a child. Owing to poor
health she went to stay with her aunt Christine Gley, a singer and
mother of the Vienna actress Julie Rettich [de] (1809â€"1866). In 1842
she accepted a contract as actress at Bernburg and Ballenstedt, and
her father undertook her training as a singer. After appearing as a
page in the new opera Les Huguenots at Ballenstedt, she began to give
concerts with much success. In Bernburg she gained favourable notice
by standing in to take the role of Marguerite de Valois in a
performance attended by Duke Leopold.The managing director moved his
company to Halle during the summer, and Johanna studied Friedrich
Schiller roles for the theatre, and operatic roles with her father in
Daniel Auber's Maurer und Schlosser, Albert Lortzing's Der Wildschütz
and in Don Giovanni. Her first important operatic appearance was as
Catherina Cornaro in Fromental Halévy's La reine de Chypre. In May
1844 Richard Wagner arranged an audition for her at the Dresden Royal
Opera, where she gave guest appearances in these operas and received a
three-year contract, being engaged as a Royal Saxon Kammersängerin
before the age of 18.
October 1894) was a mezzo-soprano singer, tragédienne in theatrical
drama, and teacher of singing and theatrical performance who won great
distinction in Europe during the third quarter of the 19th century.
She was a niece of the composer Richard Wagner and was the original
performer, and in some respects the inspiration, of the character of
Elisabeth in Tannhäuser. She was also the original intended performer
of Brünnhilde in Der Ring des Nibelungen, but in the event assumed
other roles.Johanna Wagner was born in Seelze, Hanover. She was the
natural daughter of a soldier named Bock von Wülfingen, and was
adopted by Albert Wagner (1799â€"1874) (eldest brother of Richard) and
his wife Elise (1800â€"1864). They had two other daughters. From
Seelze the family moved to Würzburg in 1830, where both parents
worked in the Royal Bavarian Theatre, father being an actor, singer
and stage-manager. She received piano lessons from her mother, a Roman
Catholic, and sang duets with the Landgräfin of Hessen, who took
singing lessons from her father. Richard Wagner visited in 1833 (while
composing Die Feen) and often accompanied her singing Carl Loewe's
ballad "Edward". Johanna knew the young Marie Seebach (later wife of
Wagnerian singer Albert Niemann), who attended the same confirmation
class.She showed aptitude for the stage as a child. Owing to poor
health she went to stay with her aunt Christine Gley, a singer and
mother of the Vienna actress Julie Rettich [de] (1809â€"1866). In 1842
she accepted a contract as actress at Bernburg and Ballenstedt, and
her father undertook her training as a singer. After appearing as a
page in the new opera Les Huguenots at Ballenstedt, she began to give
concerts with much success. In Bernburg she gained favourable notice
by standing in to take the role of Marguerite de Valois in a
performance attended by Duke Leopold.The managing director moved his
company to Halle during the summer, and Johanna studied Friedrich
Schiller roles for the theatre, and operatic roles with her father in
Daniel Auber's Maurer und Schlosser, Albert Lortzing's Der Wildschütz
and in Don Giovanni. Her first important operatic appearance was as
Catherina Cornaro in Fromental Halévy's La reine de Chypre. In May
1844 Richard Wagner arranged an audition for her at the Dresden Royal
Opera, where she gave guest appearances in these operas and received a
three-year contract, being engaged as a Royal Saxon Kammersängerin
before the age of 18.
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