Soprano Edith Mathis Passes Away at 86

The Bavarian State Opera and the management of Edith Mathis have announced that the celebrated Swiss soprano passed away on 9 February in Salzburg, Austria, at the age of 86.

Born on 11 February 1938 in Lucerne, Switzerland, Edith Mathis studied at conservatories in Lucerne and Zurich before making her operatic debut in 1957 as Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. From 1959 to 1963, she was a member of the Cologne Opera, and in 1963, she became a principal artist at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. She also performed frequently at the Hamburg State Opera and the Glyndebourne Festival and was a regular presence at the Salzburg Festival.

Throughout her illustrious career, Mathis graced the stages of some of the world’s most prestigious opera houses, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Vienna State Opera, the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, and the Paris Opera.

Mathis was particularly celebrated for her portrayals of Mozart’s lyric soprano roles. She collaborated with legendary conductors such as Herbert von Karajan, Karl Böhm, and Karl Richter, and her recordings for Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, and Philips remain highly regarded. Her performances as Ännchen in Der Freischütz and Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro are widely considered definitive.

In addition to her operatic career, Mathis was a distinguished recitalist, frequently performing lieder and oratorio repertoire, with a deep affinity for the works of J.S. Bach.

In 1979, she was awarded the honorary title of Kammersängerin by the Bavarian State Opera. From 1992 to 2006, she taught lieder and oratorio interpretation at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

Edith Mathis retired from the stage in 2001, leaving behind a legacy of artistry and refinement that continues to inspire generations of musicians.