Elise Wiedermann

Elise Wiedermann (31 August 1851 – 24 July 1922) was a Viennese-born soprano who performed and taught singing in Melbourne, Australia from 1883.

Elise Wiedermann
Background information
Born(1851-08-31)31 August 1851
Vienna, Austria
Died24 July 1922(1922-07-24) (aged 70)
Windsor, Victoria, Australia
GenresOpera
OccupationsSoprano, singing teacher

Early life and education

Elise Wiedermann was born in Vienna, Austria on 31 August 1851 to Elise (née Aschinger) and Carl Wiedermann.[1] She studied singing at the Vienna Conservatorium, where she was taught by Mathilde Marchesi[2] and was awarded laureate in 1873.[1]

Career

Wiedermann's first professional performances were with the Komische Oper and Carltheater in Vienna, the latter under the baton of Franz von Suppé.[3] She subsequently performed in Zürich in 1875 and then at the Court Theatre Braunschweig for five years.[3]

She became engaged to Viennese-born Carl Pinschof in 1880.[1] He migrated to Melbourne where she followed in 1883. The couple were married on 19 August 1883 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Hawthorn.[4] After her marriage, the Austro-Hungarian government forced her to give up singing in public or for remuneration[1] and she could perform at private events only.

She and her husband became patrons of music and art, supporting the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music founded by George Marshall-Hall[5] and opening their home, "Studley Hall" in Kew for musical performances.[1] Recognising the talent of Nellie Melba, Wiedemann provided her with a letter of introduction to her teacher, Mathilde Marchesi.[2]

Her students included Florence Austral, Evelyn Scotney and Elsa Stralia.[2]

Death and legacy

Wiedermann died on 24 July 1922 at her home, "Lewisham", Lewisham Road, Windsor.[6] Survived by her husband and three daughters, she was buried on 26 July in the Lutheran section of Booroondara Cemetery.[7]

The chancellor of Melbourne University, Sir John MacFarland, unveiled a tablet in her memory in Melba Hall in 1923.[8]

References
  1. Middelmann, Raoul F. (1988). "Wiedermann, Elise (1851–1922)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 11. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538.
  2. "The Link Between". Smith's Weekly. Vol. IV, no. 24. New South Wales, Australia. 5 August 1922. p. 12. Retrieved 27 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. Niehoff, Pamela Mary (1991). The Pinschofs: patrons of art and music in Melbourne 1883–1920 (masters thesis). Department of Dine Arts, University of Melbourne. p. 8. hdl:11343/39094.
  4. "Family Notices". The Argus. No. 11, 606. Melbourne, Australia. 1 September 1883. p. 1. Retrieved 27 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Current Topics". The Sydney Mail. Vol. XXI, no. 541. New South Wales, Australia. 9 August 1922. p. 7. Retrieved 27 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Mme. Wiedermann". The Argus. No. 23, 703. Melbourne, Australia. 25 July 1922. p. 6. Retrieved 27 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Funeral of Late Madame Wiedermann". The Herald. No. 14, 464. Victoria, Australia. 26 July 1922. p. 3. Retrieved 27 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Melba Hall Memorials". The Argus. No. 23, 919. Melbourne, Australia. 5 April 1923. p. 6. Retrieved 27 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
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