Erika Wedekind (Soprano) (Hannover, Germany 13. 11. 1868 † Zurch, Switzerland 10. 10. 1944)

From 1891 to 1894 song studies with Gustav Scharfe and Aglaja of Orgeni in Dresden. She made her stage debut (1894) at the Dresden Royal Opera as Frau Fluth in Nicolai's ''Lustigen Weiber von Windsor''. She was an immediate sensation and remained the celebrated principal coloratura soprano at the Dresden Opera until 1909. At Covent Garden in 1903 she introduced her interpretation of Rosina to the London audiences. She was acclaimed in this role by an enthusiastic critic of The London Times: "[Her] voice is a light soprano, and she is what the Germans call a 'coloratur' singer of rare skill, her execution of scales being almost as perfect as Mme Melba's. She sang 'Una voce' with a profusion of ornament which was almost bewildering. . . ." 

Chronology of some appearances

1894-1909 Dresden Hofoper Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (Frau Fluth)

1896 Moscow Concert

1896 Zurich Stadttheater 

1897 Moscow Concert

1898 Dresden Hofoper Kirke (Premiere)

1899 Zurich Stadttheater

1900 Holland Concert

1901 Dresden Hofoper Nausikaa

1903 London Covent Garden Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)

1904 Vienna Hofoper Lucia di Lammermoor (Lucia)

1905 Zurich Stadttheater
1907 Dresden Hofoper Die Schönen von Fogaras (Verona)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

G&T, Berlin 1905-06-24

Ernani (Verdi): Ernani involami (It) 53464 197r

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Arie der Rosine, pt 2 43713 198r

Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (Nicolai): Nun eilt herbei 043063 107s 

G&T, Berlin 1907-10-04

Die Schönen von Fogaras (Grünfeld): Gänselied 43956 3408r 

Fille du Régiment (Donizetti): Weiss nicht die Welt (w. chorus) 43948 3410r 

Gramophone, Dresden 1908

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart): Un moto di gioia 53538 5063r 

Mignon (Thomas): Schwalbenduett (w. Rains) 2-44460 5062r

Fra Diavolo (Auber): Erblickt auf Felsenhöhen (w. Burian) 2-44461 5071r

Mignon (Thomas): Kennst du das Land 2-43173 5074r 

Mignon (Thomas): Kam ein armes Kind (Styrienne) 2-43174 5083r

Komm', Frau Nachtigall (Wunderlich) 2-43204 5079r 

Fra Diavolo (Auber): Welches Glück 2-43205 5075r