Andrei Ungureanu's video: In Memoriam Teresa ylis-Gara 1930-2021

Teresa Zylis-Gara was one of the most versatile voices of the 20th century. Her repertoire was unusually broad and comprised a wide variety of styles from early baroque to modern music. Her absolute operatic debut was in 1956 as Halka (Monuszko’s Halka), at Opera Krakowska. After winning several prizes in some singing competitions, from 1962, she became part of ensembles in German opera houses like: Oberhausen, Dortmund and Dusseldorf. Her early roles were Poppea (Monteverdi), Agathe (Freischutz), Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier), Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus). Her international career started in 1965, at Glyndebourne Festival, as Octavian from Der Rosenkavalier under John Pritchard (opposite M. Caballé). However, her debut in 1966 as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni in Paris was a marking point in her career, as she will be associated withthe role for the next decade (Salzburg Festival: 1968 c H. von Karajan; Met, NY: 1968-74; SFO; 1968; ROH; WSO: 1972-1979. Her other Mozart roles were Contessa from Le Nozze di Figaro (Met 1970-72 c K. Böhm, WSO 1971-79, ROH: 1977), Fiordiligi from Cosi fan Tutte, and Pamina from Die Zauberflöte. Desdemona in Verdi’s Otello was another role she was highly acclaimed for. It was an unusual Desdemona, because besides her gorgeous colourful instrument, she had a great personality. She performed it in all worlds’ major opera houses and marked her debut at Teatro alla Scala, Milano (her only performance with the company, 13 jan 1977,), Met, ROH London, Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires, WSO etc. along with the most celebrated tenors in the title role: J. Vickers, P. Domingo, C. Cossutta, J. McCraken, R. Cassilly. Although not associated with role of Violetta from La Traviata, she performed it successfully during her career and marked her debut at ROH, London in 1968. She also performed it at the Met and WSO. Her other Verdi roles were: Amelia, Un Ballo in Maschera: Met 1981 and Paris 1983; Elena from I Vespri Siciliani ( Bonn, 1987), Leonora, Il Trovatore: Met 1983 and WSO: 1967, 73, 76 and Elisabetta di Valois (1969, Roma, c Th. Schippers; cast included N. Ghiaurov, F. Cossotto, P. Cappuccilli and B. Prevedi; MYTO) She frequently performed worldwide the verismo mainstream repertoire: Puccini: Mimi (La Boheme), Tosca, Manon Lescaut, Madama Butterfly, Suor Angelica F. Cilea: Adriana Lecouvreur, U. Giordano: Maddalena di Coigny (Andrea Chenier). Another important part of Miss Zylis-Gara’s career is represented by her Wagner heroines. Her Sieglinde was recorded in a live broadcast from Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Paris in 1986, conducted by Marek Janowski; D. McIntyre, J, King, W. Meier, M. Holle, U. Vinzing. She also sang Elsa from Lohengrin (at the Met, opposite Siegfried Jerusalem, Mignon Dunn c. G. Patanè), Elizabeth from Tannhauser (Met 1978 and 84 opposite Tatiana Troyanos’Venus!!). Although she was known for her stunning Octavian, she later performed at the Met Marschallin at the Met “Miss Zylis-Gara, Judith Blegen as Sophie and Tatiana Troyanos as Octavian - was pure gold, and guided and shaped by an inspired James Levine the Trio became the perfect moment everyone wants and rarely experiences” (Golden Sound of Opera). She recorded The Composer, Ariadne auf Naxos in studio under R. Kempe, and performed live the title role of Ariadne. Ms Zylis-Gara was also acclaimed in the French repertoire. One of the greatest achievements of her career is the recording of Ernest Chausson’s le Roi Arthus (the part of Genièvre), conducted by A. Jordan in 1986. She also performed Manon by Massenet (opposite Alfredo Kraus’ des Grieux) and Margueritte, Faust (Ch. Gounod) with P. Domingo and Teresa from Benvenuto Cellini, H. Berlioz. From the Russian repertoire she sang Lisa from The Queen of Spades and Tatiana from Eugene Onegin, in 1977 at the Met, with Sherrill Milnes. Miss Zylis-Gara also performed several belcanto roles. She sang the title role of Anna Bolena in German language at Koln in 1967, under Alberto Erede, opposite Karl Ridderbusch and Verra Little. She also sang Anaide in Rossini’s Mosè under W. Sawallisch, opposite N. Ghiaurov, S. Verrett in 1968, Roma. A live recording of Rossini’s Guglielmo Tell from Hamburg, under J. Delacote, 1982, was issued by MYTO; T. Zylis-Gara in the role of Matilde, with G. Taddei and F. Bonisolli. She also sang Elaisa from Mercadante’s Il Giuramento (under M. Arena, in Paris, 1975). Miss Zylis-Gara was a successful lieder and oratorio singer. She performed and recorded: Mahler songs and symphonies, Bach cantatas and Matthäuspassion (EMI), Chopin songs, Moniuszko songs, Lalo songs, Dvorák Requiem, Rossini Stabat Mater, Szymanowski’s Stabat Mater and lieder, Mozart Requiem, R. Strauss Vier letzte lieder, Beethoven Misa Solemnis, Handel Coronation Anthems. “You cannot be a successful singer unless you work with your whole intelligence, body and spirit.” (Teresa Zylis-Gara for New York Times, 1974)