Regina Werner-Dietrich (born 9 April 1950) as Regina Werner) is a German operatic

soprano A soprano () is a type of classical female singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hz to "high A" (A5) = 880&n ...

and vocal pedagogue. She is professor emerita of classical singing at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig.

Life

Born in

Zwickau Zwickau (; is, with around 87,500 inhabitants (2020), the fourth-largest city of Saxony after Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz and it is the seat of the Zwickau District. The West Saxon city is situated in the valley of the Zwickau Mulde (German: ' ...

, Werner grew up in a musical family, her father was ''

Kapellmeister (, also , ) from German ''Kapelle'' (chapel) and ''Meister'' (master)'','' literally "master of the chapel choir" designates the leader of an ensemble of musicians. Originally used to refer to somebody in charge of music in a chapel, the term ha ...

''. She attended the Thomasschule zu Leipzig from 1964 to 1968 and then studied at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig with

Eva Fleischer Eva Fleischer, also Eva Fleischer-Fischer (5 May 1922, Wrocław – 8 January 2016, Leipzig) was a German opera contralto and professor at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig. Life Born in Breslau, Fleischer studied at the Musikhochsch ...

until 1973. She won 2nd prize at the International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in 1972. From 1974 to 1987, Werner was a soloist with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, which was conducted by

Kurt Masur Kurt Masur (18 July 1927 – 19 December 2015) was a German conductor. Called "one of the last old-style maestros", he directed many of the principal orchestras of his era. He had a long career as the Kapellmeister of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Or ...

during this time. She performed regularly at the Gewandhaus, both as part of the Grand Concerts and on . At

St. Thomas Church, Leipzig , native_name_lang = , image = Leipzig Thomaskirche.jpg , imagelink = , imagealt = , caption = , pushpin map = , pushpin label position = , pushpin map alt ...

, she sang in particular cantatas and oratorios by

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...

with the Thomanerchor. She went on concert tours in Europe and East Asia with the Gewandhaus Orchestra and the St Thomas's Boys' Choir. Karl-Josef Kutsch,

Leo Riemens Leonardus Antony Marinus Riemens (3 December 1910 – 3 April 1985) was a Dutch musicologist and cultural journalist. He wrote a book about Maria Callas, and together with Karl-Josef Kutsch began a reference book about opera singers in 1962, which ...

(ed.): ''

Großes Sängerlexikon ''Großes Sängerlexikon'' (''Biographical Dictionary of Singers'', literally: Large singers' lexicon) is a single-field dictionary of singers in classical music, edited by Karl-Josef Kutsch and Leo Riemens and first published in 1987. The first ...

.'' 4th edition,

K. G. Saur Verlag K. G. Saur Verlag is a German publisher that specializes in reference information for libraries. The publishing house, founded by Karl Saur, is owned by Walter de Gruyter and is based in Munich. In 1987, K. G. Saur was acquired by Reed Interna ...

, Munich 2003, volume 7, , Eintrag ''Werner, Regina''. As a guest she sang among others at the Komische Oper Berlin, the Oper Leipzig and

Semperoper The Semperoper () is the opera house of the Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden (Saxon State Opera) and the concert hall of the Staatskapelle Dresden (Saxon State Orchestra). It is also home to the Semperoper Ballett. The building is located on the ...

in Dresden. Her opera and operetta repertoire included Susanna in ''

The Marriage of Figaro ''The Marriage of Figaro'' ( it, Le nozze di Figaro, links=no, ), K. 492, is a ''commedia per musica'' (opera buffa) in four acts composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with an Italian libretto written by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It premie ...

'', the Queen of the Night in ''

The Magic Flute ''The Magic Flute'' (German: , ), K. 620, is an opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is in the form of a ''Singspiel'', a popular form during the time it was written that inclu ...

'', Marzelline in ''

Fidelio ''Fidelio'' (; ), originally titled ' (''Leonore, or The Triumph of Marital Love''), Op. 72, is Ludwig van Beethoven's only opera. The German libretto was originally prepared by Joseph Sonnleithner from the French of Jean-Nicolas Bouilly, with ...

'', Norina in '' Don Pasquale'', Gilda in '' Rigoletto'', Adele in the '' Die Fledermaus'' and Sophie in '' Der Rosenkavalier''. She has participated in radio, television and sound recordings, among others the complete recordings of the Handel Oratorio ''

Semele Semele (; Ancient Greek: Σεμέλη ), in Greek mythology, was the youngest daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia (Greek goddess), Harmonia, and the mother of Dionysus by Zeus in one of his many origin myths. Certain elements of the cult of Dionysu ...

'', ''

Messiah In Abrahamic religions, a messiah or messias (; , ; , ; ) is a saviour or liberator of a group of people. The concepts of ''mashiach'', messianism, and of a Messianic Age originated in Judaism, and in the Hebrew Bible, in which a ''mashiach'' ...

'' and '' Salomon'' as well as Haydn's '' The Creation'' with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin for the

Eterna Eterna is a Swiss luxury watch company founded in Grenchen, Canton Solothurn, on 7 November 1856 by Josef Girard and Urs Schild. The company is now owned by Hong Kong-based Citychamp Watch & Jewellery Group Limited, an investment holding co ...

record label. She bears the honorary title '' Kammersängerin''. Having already held a teaching position at the Hochschule für Musik "Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy" Leipzig, she became a permanent lecturer in 1987 and was appointed professor in 1993. For a time she was dean of Faculty of the Hochschule. She also gave national and international

master class A master class is a Class (education), class given to students of a particular Academic discipline, discipline by an expert of that discipline—usually music, but also science, painting, drama, games, or on any other occasion where skills are b ...

es, among others at the

Conservatoire de Paris The Conservatoire de Paris (), also known as the Paris Conservatory, is a college of music and dance founded in 1795. Officially known as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), it is situated in the avenue ...

(CNSMDP) and at the

Maîtrise Notre Dame de Paris Maîtrise Notre Dame de Paris is a pre-college music school situated in Paris, France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas region ...

. Her students include , , , , Olena Tokar and Elsa Dreisig. On the occasion of her retirement, the Leipzig Academy of Music awarded Werner-Dietrich an honorary professorship in 2015. Even after retirement, she continued her annual, highly frequented operetta course.Roland H. Dippel:
Paprikareiches Menü mit Schlenkern zum Broadway – Operettenworkshop 2017 an der HMT Leipzig.
' In '' Neue Musikzeitung'' (online), 15 February 2017.

Recording (selection)

* 1974:

Joseph Haydn Franz Joseph Haydn ( , ; 31 March 173231 May 1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. He was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the string quartet and piano trio. His contributions ...

, '' Die Schöpfung''. Mit Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin,

Rundfunkchor Berlin The Rundfunkchor Berlin (Berlin Radio Choir) is a professional German classical choir founded in 1925. In the 1950s the choir was divided into the Berliner Solistenvereinigung and the Großer Chor des Berliner Rundfunks. These were united as Run ...

, Helmut Koch, Heidi Rieß,

Peter Schreier Peter Schreier (29 July 1935 – 25 December 2019) was a German tenor in opera, concert and lied, and a conductor. He was regarded as one of the leading lyric tenors of the 20th century. Schreier was a member of the Dresdner Kreuzchor conduct ...

, Theo Adam. * 1974:

Georg Friedrich Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Handel received his training i ...

, ''

''. Mit Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Helmut Koch, Eberhard Büchner, Siegfried Lorenz, Fritz Hübner, Gisela Pohl. * 1975: Georg Friedrich Händel, ''

Der Messias ''Der Messias'', K. 572, is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 1789 German-language version of ''Messiah'', George Frideric Handel's 1741 oratorio. On the initiative of Gottfried van Swieten, Mozart adapted Handel's work for performances in Vienna ...

''. Mit Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Helmut Koch, Heidi Rieß, Peter Schreier, Theo Adam. * 1975:

, Kantaten '' Wir danken dir, Gott'' und '' Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn''. Mit Thomanerchor,

Gewandhausorchester The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra (Gewandhausorchester; also previously known in German as the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig) is a German symphony orchestra based in Leipzig, Germany. The orchestra is named after the concert hall in which it is bas ...

Hans-Joachim Rotzsch Hans-Joachim Rotzsch (25 April 1929 – 25 September 2013) was a German choral conductor, conducting the Thomanerchor from 1972 until 1991 as the fifteenth Thomaskantor since Johann Sebastian Bach. He was also a tenor and an academic teacher. Bi ...

, Heidi Rieß,

Hermann Christian Polster Hermann Christian Polster (born 8 April 1937) is a German opera singer ( bass). Life Born in Leipzig, the son of the concert singer and singing teacher Fritz Polster, he received his first education from his father. He was a member of the Dresdn ...

. * 1975: Johann Sebastian Bach, Kantaten ''

Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173a (Most illustrious Leopold), BWV 173.1 (formerly BWV 173a),Work at Bach Digital website. is a Bach cantata, secular cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach composed the cantata for performance in Köthen to celebrate the birthday of Leopo ...

'' und '' Erhöhtes Fleisch und Blut''. Mit Thomanerchor, Gewandhausorchester, Hans-Joachim Rotzsch, Heidi Rieß, Siegfried Lorenz, Hermann Christian Polster. * 1978: Johann Sebastian Bach, Kantaten '' Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit'' und ''

Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig "" (Ah how fleeting, ah how insubstantial) is a German Lutheran hymn with lyrics by Michael Franck, who published it with his own melody and a four-part setting in 1652. Johann Crüger's reworked version of the hymn tune was published in 1661. Seve ...

''. Mit Thomanerchor, Gewandhausorchester, Hans-Joachim Rotzsch, Rosemarie Lang, Peter Schreier, Dieter Weimann, Hermann Christian Polster. * 1981: Georg Friedrich Händel, '' Salomo''. Mit Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Rundfunkchor Berlin,

Heinz Rögner Heinz Rögner (16 January 1929 – 10 December 2001) was a German conductor. He was born in Leipzig. Rögner was a student of Hugo Steurer (piano), Egon Bölsche (conducting) and Otto Gutschlicht (viola). From 1947 to 1951, he was a repetite ...

Marga Schiml Marga Schiml (born 29 November 1945) is a German opera singer who sings mezzo-soprano and alto. She has appeared at major European opera houses and festivals, such as the Vienna State Opera, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Hamburg State Opera an ...

Eva-Maria Bundschuh Eva-Maria Bundschuh (born 16 October 1941) is a German operatic soprano who began her career as a contralto. She received international when she collaborated with Harry Kupfer at the Komische Oper Berlin. Life and career Born in Braunschweig ...

, Helga Termer, Sibylle Suske, Eberhard Büchner, Hermann Christian Polster.

References

External links

* *
Regina Werner singt „Ich folge dir gleichfalls…“ aus der ''Johannes-Passion'' von J. S. Bach.
Thomaskirche Leipzig, 1973 (Youtube; 5:38 min)
Regina Werner singt Solveigs Lied aus ''Peer Gynt'' von Edvard Grieg.
Gewandhaus zu Leipzig, 1982 (Youtube; 6:06 min) {{DEFAULTSORT:Werner Dietrich, Regina German operatic sopranos Voice teachers Academic staff of the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig 1950 births Living people People from Zwickau