Sonja Kehler (2 February 1933 â€" 18 January 2016) was a German
actress and chanson singer, known internationally for her
interpretation of works by Bertolt Brecht, first playing his
characters on the theatre stage, then focused on singing his songs and
those of others in solo programs. She also taught acting in Danish at
the theatre academy in Odense, appeared in films, worked as stage
director and presented literary programs.Born in Haldensleben, Kehler
first studied Romance languages, planning to become a theatre critic.
When she played a small role in a student theatre project, she was
called by the Theaterhochschule Leipzig. She studied acting there and
performed at several theatres in East Germany, playing for example
Luise in Schiller's Kabale und Liebe, Shen Te in Brecht's Der gute
Mensch von Sezuan and Grusche in his Der kaukasische Kreidekreis. She
also turned to musical theatre as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and
Seeräuber-Jenny in the Dreigroschenoper. She was a member of theatres
in Brandenburg and Karl-Marx-Stadt.The musical parts in Brecht's plays
led to her singing chansons, during her student years when she was
called "singende Schauspielerin" (the singing actress). She took part
in the first chanson competition in the GDR in 1967 and was awarded
the special prize "Sonderpreis des Rundfunks".In 1971 she performed
her first Brecht programme, singing settings by Paul Dessau, Hanns
Eisler, Tilo Medek and Kurt Weill. Her recordings also appeared in
West Germany and internationally. She turned to singing chansons in
several languages. Tours took her to Algeria, Austria and most
European countries including Belgium, Denmark, England, Finland,
France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain,
Sweden and Switzerland.
actress and chanson singer, known internationally for her
interpretation of works by Bertolt Brecht, first playing his
characters on the theatre stage, then focused on singing his songs and
those of others in solo programs. She also taught acting in Danish at
the theatre academy in Odense, appeared in films, worked as stage
director and presented literary programs.Born in Haldensleben, Kehler
first studied Romance languages, planning to become a theatre critic.
When she played a small role in a student theatre project, she was
called by the Theaterhochschule Leipzig. She studied acting there and
performed at several theatres in East Germany, playing for example
Luise in Schiller's Kabale und Liebe, Shen Te in Brecht's Der gute
Mensch von Sezuan and Grusche in his Der kaukasische Kreidekreis. She
also turned to musical theatre as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and
Seeräuber-Jenny in the Dreigroschenoper. She was a member of theatres
in Brandenburg and Karl-Marx-Stadt.The musical parts in Brecht's plays
led to her singing chansons, during her student years when she was
called "singende Schauspielerin" (the singing actress). She took part
in the first chanson competition in the GDR in 1967 and was awarded
the special prize "Sonderpreis des Rundfunks".In 1971 she performed
her first Brecht programme, singing settings by Paul Dessau, Hanns
Eisler, Tilo Medek and Kurt Weill. Her recordings also appeared in
West Germany and internationally. She turned to singing chansons in
several languages. Tours took her to Algeria, Austria and most
European countries including Belgium, Denmark, England, Finland,
France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain,
Sweden and Switzerland.
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